Percy Hedley student, Michael Bell, was caught by surprise in November with an unexpected visit from the Tyne and Wear Fire Service.
The fire-fighters were delivering a laptop to Michael, 16, as a result of a grant awarded by Smile for Life.
Michael, from Trimdon, County Durham, has complex special needs including cerebral palsy. The grant from Smile for Life was provided for a laptop with special voice activated software to help Michael with homework.
Michael said:
“I’d like to say a big thank you to Smile for Life. I absolutely love my new laptop! I am going to use it to do my homework and other school work. I use a special software package which allows me to speak to my laptop and the laptop types it up for me – hence the help with the homework, it’s brilliant.”
The funding for the laptop was possible because of the incredible fundraising efforts of the Tyne and Wear Fire Service. They raised £4,570 by taking part in the gruelling Lanzarote Ironman 2011, organised by fire-fighter Keith Christie.
The fire-fighters delivered the laptop to Michael in class, much to the surprise of him and his class-mates.
Paula Gascoigne, Smile for Life’s Chief Executive said:
“We can’t thank the Tyne and Wear Fire Service enough for the incredible amount they have raised. They really have made a big difference to Michael, and to all the other students they met at Percy Hedley today who enjoyed going in the engine, trying on the helmets and having a go on the sirens!”