I can hang around with my mates! Richard developed Perthes’ disease when a young child. He also has a genetic growth disorder, which affects all the bones in his body and despite several operations he can only walk a few steps with crutches. Richard still requires hip replacements and will eventually need surgery to straighten his spine. He had a manual wheelchair but with constant pain in his shoulders, he could not use it by himself and often had to stay away from school. Richard is bright and intelligent but just a teenager and having to accept his worsening disabilities. He copes remarkably well, but was desperate to go out with his friends. His favourite pastime is fishing but it was impossible for him to move along the banks. We gave Richard a Jazzy powerchair and immediately he went across to the shops on his own for the first time in his life. His school has full wheelchair access so there is no reason why he cannot complete his education to whatever level he aspires to. We hope that Richard will now enjoy an independence hitherto denied to him and that he will live life to the full, despite his disabilities. "My life is so different now. I can go shopping anytime I like. In fact I can even do the teenage thing and hang around with my mates".