Donation From Yorkshire Stairlift Manufacturer Makes For With Life Changing Results

A 72-year-old woman no longer has to crawl up the stairs on all fours thanks to the donation which has provided a “life-changing” stairlift.

The Yorkshire manufacturer, Acorn Stairlifts, installs up to 60 stairlifts a year free of charge across the country as part of their ongoing partnership with Marie Curie, which provides long-term mobility reduced patients a chance to return to their home.

Emily Binks, an Edinburgh resident, was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2002 and since has suffered immense difficulty going up and down the stairs following an unsuccessful knee replacement. Lack of mobility made everyday life a challenge, as Emily really struggled to access the bathroom and bedroom and would only use the stairs as a necessity with help from her husband, Michael.

The team at Marie Curie in Edinburgh offered Emily exercises and massages to help with the pain. However, to ease what had become an agonising task, Marie Curie suggested a stairlift which Emily agreed would help her recover her independence.

“Before the stairlift was fitted, I had to face unendurable pain to climb the stairs on all fours and then take one step at a time to get down.” Emily said, continuing “My worried husband would have the exhausting task of helping me up the stairs before he left the house – meaning we always had to plan and think ahead. It was so restricting and took away much of our freedom.”

Acorn almost immediately understood Emily and Michael’s punishing situation and to Emily’s elation had a stairlift fitted after two weeks of initial contact.

Emily said:

“I have no fear going up the stairs now. It’s completely changed our lives; any worries of falling have been lifted and I have no restrictions on when I can go upstairs.”

The Senior Corporate Account Manager at Marie Curie, Hannah Harding said:

“We’re thrilled to see what a difference our partnership with Acorn Stairlifts has made for people like Emily. It is so rewarding to see the relief stairlifts provide for their loved ones too and we’re passionate about changing more lives as the partnership with Acorn Stairlifts continues.”

The Operations Director for Acorn Stairlifts added:

“Stories like Emily’s are the exact reason we partnered with Marie Curie. We aim to change lives by installing 60 stairlifts a year for Marie Curie patients, which are to be installed before they return from hospital. We’re so pleased to be supporting the transformative work already undertaken by Marie Curie through our pioneering partnership.”