Children with disabilities in Dorset are now able to enjoy some adventurous journeys.

The Dorset Children’s Foundation (DCF) has received £28,800 from Talbot Village Trust towards 50 buggies for use by families when visiting off-road locations such as beaches and parks.

So far, 29 children have directly benefited from the scheme.

The ‘adventure chair’, an all-terrain wheelchair, has positively impacted William, a child who suffers from Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, a rare and progressive condition affecting the central nervous system.

William’s parents said: “Our son can do so many things despite his disability but one thing he couldn’t do before was join his sisters on their outdoor adventures because of the limitations of his wheelchair, but his Adventure Chair can go pretty much anywhere and now he’s finally a part of their adventures and he loves it.”

Kitty is another child that has benefited. Kitty can walk for short periods but becomes very unsteady on her feet and she wanted to be able to manoeuvre easily when out and about. An adaptable wheelchair that can go anywhere has been essential, providing much needed support while also enabling her family to nurture her independence.

As a result of the funding, DCF has been able to purchase four Delechon Delta Wheelchairs, plus a wide range of adventure chairs including the Firefly WeGo and GoTo.

Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, chairman of Talbot Village Trust, said: “Being able to get outside and enjoy the beautiful landscapes our county has to offer is key to our well-being and it is essential that this is accessible to everyone. All of us at the Trust are delighted to have been a part of supporting so many deserving families to be able to experience one of life’s greatest joys.”

The scheme works on a loan basis so that families can return the buggy for re-use when the child outgrows it. This means that many more children can continue to enjoy the countryside and manage the terrain that comes with it, for many years to come.

Patsy Hallmey, DCF co-founder said: “A big donation like this is just remarkable and enables us to purchase mobility equipment which is expensive and would otherwise be out of reach for many of our families. We are passionate about enabling disabled children to do what able bodied children can, and now many of them can enjoy the beautiful countryside where we live.”