Volunteers at an assistive technology charity in Bath are planning to race against the clock to build an intricate child’s powered wheelchair in just one day.
The design team at Designability, based in Bath, will be attempting the feat on Giving Tuesday, 3rd December.
Known as a ‘Wizzybug’, the highly specialised powered wheelchair for children aged 5 and under, costs £4,850.
On Giving Tuesday, volunteers are hoping to have enough money pledged to pay for one Wizzybug, which they will build before the end of the day.
Fiona Cromwell, Marketing & Communications Officer at Designability said: “We thought Giving Tuesday would be a fantastic opportunity to get involved in a nationwide as well as international campaign in order to be part of something bigger.
“Designability is a relatively small, lesser-known, national charity so this kind of initiative will really help us amplify what we are trying to achieve.”
Launched in America in 2012 as a ‘give something back’ response to the Christmas shopping rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is the global day of giving when millions of people across the world come together to celebrate and support their local communities and the causes that mean so much to us all.
The giving movement was brought to the UK by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) in 2014.
“Giving Tuesday is a chance for all of us, no matter where we live or what we do to help a cause close to our hearts,” said Gráinne Mathews, who leads Giving Tuesday in the UK for CAF.
“We wish Designability the very best of luck with their fundraising and look forward to seeing the completed Wizzybug put to good use.”
On 3rd December, live updates of the fundraising total and video of the building of a Wizzybug will be available on the Designability website.