Emsea Ltd and Tewkesbury Rotary Club ride to their rescue.

Parents of local 9 year old boy, Josh Horsley, who was born with Spina Bifida and Hip Dysplasia, felt overwhelmed when local business Emsea Ltd and Tewkesbury Rotary Club came to their rescue.

The Tomcat trike, which was recommended by Josh's Occupational Therapist (OT) to help with his rehabilitation, and strengthen his muscle tone, came at a cost of £2400.

For Josh's mum Hayley Horsley, help with funding the trike couldn't have come at a better time:

"It had been a stressful week for everyone, "said Hayley, "as we had just been told that Josh had to have an operation. When Tomcat's office manager, Jon Poole, called and told us about the very kind offer from Tewkesbury Rotary Club, and Emsea Ltd I just burst into tears! It really was the most wonderful news we could have wished for!!

The Trike is going to be an amazing part of Josh's recuperation and ongoing therapy after the operation. Thank you to both organisations for showing community spirit still exists!"

Emsea Ltd believes that giving back to their local community is just a part of their business and social ethics. Chris Sweet, director at Emsea Ltd explained: "Emsea has a strong and clear position regarding social ethics and as a successful local business we believe it is our duty to support the local community in a variety of ways.

We have worked closely with Tomcat for many years, helping to design and manufacture parts and so we were thrilled to be offered the chance to make a very real difference to Josh's day to day life. We wish him every happiness with his new trike."

The Tewkesbury Rotary Club is no stranger to funding worthwhile causes: recent projects have included three defibrillators now located in Tewkesbury, and support for projects at Tewkesbury and Alderman Knight Schools. In addition the club helps

national and international disasters by funding Shelter boxes and Aqua boxes.

Club secretary Andrew Turner said, "The Rotary club is very pleased to be able to help Josh with the trike and look forward to seeing him out and about in the very near future."

Josh's Tomcat trike is due to be collected by the family by mid-August (each trike takes approximately six weeks to build at the manufacturing site in Gloucester) Bob Griffin, founder, and MD of Tomcat concludes: "We're so proud to be part of this wonderful story, and what was initially a problem for the Horsley family, quickly got solved by the community they live in!"

Pictured: Josh Horsley on his new trike.