People have been thanked for their amazing generosity after more than £12,000 was raised to bring home a Southport man who spent more than 500 days in an intensive care hospital bed.
Two years ago Michael Walton, now 30 years old, was a psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University as he enjoyed watching his sister Stephanie get married.
But just weeks later he was undergoing the first of a series of invasive operations for a brain tumour.
He subsequently spent 503 in the intensive care unit at the Walton neurological hospital in Liverpool and has been left unable to breathe by himself, close his eyes or speak.
After a series of appeals through Stand Up For Southport and elsewhere on social media, more than 600 people have helped to raise over £12,000.
The money will transform Michael’s life by buying him a special eye-gaze system to help give him a way to speak, while also allowing his family to convert a home for him in Banks, in West Lancashire.
Michael’s loving Mum and Dad, Roger and Margaret, have sold their house so they can buy a new home which they are busy adapting to suit Michael’s needs.
His sister, Stephanie Russell, has been leading the fundraising appeals to help her brother, and has been overwhelmed by the support from local people and companies who have provided not just financial support, but also practical and material help as well.
Stephanie said: “Can I just start by saying what an amazing town and community we have here in Southport and the surrounding areas!
“Most of the following are local businesses, local tradespeople, and local families who have gone out of their way to help us. A massive thank you to the following:
Local Businesses:
MKM Building Supplies – Matt and team
Southport Community Link Foundation, Enda Rylands.
Captain Candy Southport – Matt & Family.
Costa Del Southport – Spanish cleaning supplies
Peter Croome – Ice cream van.
Alty’s builders merchants Hoole – Rachael Smith
Costco Liverpool – Katheryn McInernerny
Rimmers Windows Southport – Dave Rimmer
Langdons of Southport – Jayne and team
The Dutch Bakery Southport – Derek and team
Ben Jones, Ed Thomas (Ed’s Bathrooms) and Adrian Jones – Heating and plumbing.
Dunelm Southport – Ben Murphy
Patisserie Valerie
Floral Botanical Southport – Stacey Murray
Tom Hodge Florists
Hoghton Coffee Lounge
Baked by Lindsay
Southport trailer trash removals
Johnstones Paint Southport
A1 Ariels Gary Beecham Southport.
Jeanette Wright – Body shop at home.
Sugar Shack Delivery
Ste Redmond – Flooring Fitter
Lathams the bakery – June and Team and for their continued support.
Eyecandy delivery Litherland – Andy Jardine
Chocolate Whirled – Laura Baxter
AB decorating services – Adam
Lottie Loves letters – Charlotte Taylor
CEF Southport – Paul
Chrissie Cotgrave – Photo restoration
Bates Dairy
Murals Wallpaper – Jon and team
Online Businesses: (Etsy/Instagram/Facebook)
Ivy Lucy design prints – Danielle
Paladone gaming UK – Hannah Davey
Beautiful gifts and things – Lisa
Wicks and Giggles – Rosie
Drawn By Rachael – Rachael Martland
Wishcraft Prints – Melissa
Savage wax melts
Aroura Blizzard melts
Bird box creations – Amy
Jenna Lou
Argibi_art
Deedoubleyoucrafts
Fizzy Melt’s Southport
Claire Finn
We are also still adding to this list..
Also a big thank you to:
Formby Stormers – Elizabeth and friends, who raised an amazing £160 for Michaels Journey to home.
Beth Gale – Simba Beauty for the donation of £100 from her Duck Race.
Stand Up For Southport and Andrew Brown, Sandgrounder Radio and Cassie James for sharing and shouting our journey from the rooftops.
Local admins of pages for sharing, bumping and allowing our fundraising posts.
And of course, all the people following, sharing, donating and helping us with our journey, it has very overwhelming.
“What are our next steps?
“Recently we reached an amazing £12,000 fundraised for Michael for his Eyegazer equipment to give him back a voice which is being ordered shortly and we are in talks with Robi the manufacturer to make this as suitable for Michael as possible, they are planning to visit Michael around September 21 to adapt this for him.
“We are continuing to raise funds for Michael for the adaptation, renovation of the house and Michael’s general quality of life.
“This will help pay for any further equipment that Michael may require and continue to support Michael in the future, potentially private physio and so on.
“There are a couple of things we would love people to help us with:
“Please follow our journey on Instagram or Facebook and come on this rollercoaster journey with us. Here you can watch videos from Michael of thanks, videos of the house and keep up to date with what’s happening!
“You can still donate here if wanted:
“If any local businesses wish to donate something towards a raffle to be held in a couple of weeks, for Michael himself, towards our ‘Pay It Forward’ that you may have seen on our social media, we love to reward those who are giving so much to us, time, trades, materials and so on. “Or towards the house itself you can contact us on social media to do this or email us Michaels-journeytohome@outlook.com
“We really appreciate any help from any local businesses, especially during this difficult, strange time we are living in.
“There is still a small number of items that we require for the house and appreciate any help with these!
“Thank you all for your continued support and messages of hope and positivity.
“Stephanie, Michael, and Family.
“Please remember ‘ Time, people and family are precious, you never know what’s around the corner.”
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
