Building firm offers to renovate disabled teenager's bathroom for free
Kind-hearted staff from a building company have offered to make the home of a severely disabled teenager more adaptable for his needs free of charge.
Phillips Maintenance Contractors Ltd, based in Maidstone, Kent, decided to help the family of 14-year-old Jordan Whitewood-Neal, who lives in Bexhill.
The firm's decision was announced at a Hastings United game on Saturday November 7.
David Walters, chairman of Hastings United, recommended the company donate to Jordan's family as the teenager had been the club's mascot three years ago.
He said: "It is incredibly generous of them and a completely altruistic gesture that will be appreciated by Jordan's family."
Jordan, of Watermill Close, Bexhill, has Proteus Syndrome, a condition which causes his limbs to grow disproportionately, cruelly twisting his body.
He is currently recovering from major surgery at home with mum Tracey, dad Dean and brother Kai following amputation of his right leg in September at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Middlesex.
The teenager, a Chelsea fan, made the difficult decision to have the operation because he could no longer cope with the pain he was suffering.
Chris Phillips, who owns Phillips Maintenance Contractors, one of the football club's main sponsors, said: "We heard about Jordan's condition from Mr Walters. The boy's family have been trying for a while to get a specially-adapted wheelchair on the NHS without success.
"We will be refitting the bathroom for him, installing a new shower and making it more adaptable.
"We hope to do the work early next year but will need to get planning permission from Rother District Council."
Despite Jordan's disability, he is an eager member of the 1066 Specials Football Club, which provides training for young people with special needs.
He has also taken up wheelchair basketball with equal enthusiasm.
Jordan was also one of the finalists at the Bexhill Achievers when he was nominated for the Gill Hamilton Young Person of the Year Award, which was collected on his behalf by Janet and Barry Towner.
Jordan's mum Tracey said: "I am very pleased that the company is able to help and we feel really privileged. We met people from the company at the recent match and they seemed to be kind and genuine individuals who want to help.
"They will be visiting us in a couple of weeks to see exactly what Jordan needs."
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Weather for Hastings
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 1 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: West
