"It would be lifechanging": Charity raffle hopes to raise funds for bionic arm for Cheltenham woman
Speech and language therapist Cathy Shilling was born without a left hand and forearm
Female business owners across Gloucestershire have donated prizes to a charity raffle to raise funds for a Cheltenham resident to buy a bionic arm.
Cathy Shilling, a speech and language therapist, was born without her left hand and forearm and has used cosmetic limbs for most of her life.
She works with children and young people who have speech and language barrier teaching them sign language.
Two sisters, Zoe Bawtree and Ness Campagnaro, launched a business during lockdown and are now galvanising support from other local female entrepreneurs to raise £6,000 for a 'Hero' bionic arm for Cathy.
Cathy Shilling said:
"For 25 to 30 years I've stuck with a cosmetic hand for my day to day life and work because I didn't find the functional arm I was given overly useful as it was uncomfortable and very heavy.
"The bionic arm would be life changing. The end of my arm would fit into it and the inside would be customised to where the muscles are in my limb different arm.
"This will enable me to open and clos my hand, I can do finger point, a peace sign, a fist bump and 'okay'.
"Having a bionic arm is going to make a massive difference because one of the things I use in my work is something called makaton sign language which is a sign supported language system to support children with communication difficulties".
Cathy approached her friend Zoe Bawtree, who with her sister Ness, have launched a business during lockdown critiquing UK luxury brands online.
Using their multiple platforms on social media and their growing following of like-minded women entrepreneurs, they began live, engaging, fun and educational videos on their #AllAboutTheLuxe pages on Facebook and Instagram.
They attempt routine tasks set by Cathy herself, one-handedly, to showcase the difficulties that she and others face on a daily basis, as limb different people.
Securing a license from Cheltenham Council and the help of seven local female artists and business women, All About The Luxe began to promote and run a luxury goods raffle, to raise 50% of the price tag for a bionic arm, to change Cathy’s life.
Zoe Bawtree said:
"The businesses are all local artisans in the Cotswolds and have donated luxury prizes to the raffle.
"It's been amazing really because it's also promoted these independent artistic women as well as helping Cathy.
"Everybody's on board and in fact we got to the point where we were turning gifts away".
Some of the prizes on offer at the raffle include Gucci handbag worth over £1,100, a painting entitled ‘Falling For You’ by local fine artist Tracey Turner valued at £1,000 and a private canape gathering worth £400 from local catering company Pink Pineapple Events.
The raffle launched on March 26 and finishes on May 9 with 1,200 tickets needed to be sold in order to reach the £6,000 target.
The women have found that creating videos where they carryout tasks with one hand has also raised awareness of what Cathy has to live like everyday.
Ness Campagnaro, Zoe's sister and business partner, said:
"It's bee truly educational for not only me but everyone else as well.
"Seeing the reaction other people have as well who are now understanding more about something they had no idea about before".
If the raffle is successful Cathy, Zoe ad Ness hope to hold more fundraisers to raise cash to allow children with limb differences purchase bionic 'Hero' arms as well.
For more details about the raffle and how to buy a ticket go to www.frankiryker.com/pages/all-about-the-luxe-luxury-raffle