VIDEO: Family says new pushchair makes life '˜so much better'

S09254H14 Summer Canneaux, three, delights in her new buggy, pushed by mum Clare Canneaux

Three-year-old Summer Canneaux, who was born with just one piece of one kidney, is too big for a normal pram.

When the family goes out, she needs a lot of equipment and as Summer tires easily, it was proving a struggle.

Karen Canneaux, Summer’s grandmother, managed to raise around £400 towards the £869 pushchair and Adur East Lions stepped in to pay the balance.

Karen said: “We were really thankful for this. It will make such a difference to Summer, especially when she goes into hospital. She doesn’t like sleeping in their cots, so the buggy is big enough for her to sleep in, too.”

Summer, who is due to start at Herons Dale Primary School in September, has had open heart surgery and her condition affects her hearing.

Karen added: “It has been tough for us as a family. Summer is three-and-a-half now and a bright, bubbly little girl. She has a lot of equipment to take with us wherever we go.”

She decided to raise money for a special needs buggy that could carry all the equipment Summer needed on a daily basis, including two changing bags, a milk machine and syringes.

Karen raised £300 at a dress-down day at work and £100 from a cake sale, then asked the Lions for the £469 balance at it ‘would make Summer’s life so much better’.

President Susan Saunders said: “The club considered the request at their January meeting and agreed unanimously to donate the outstanding amount.”

Summer’s mum, Clare Canneaux, of Millcroft Gardens, said: “The pushchair I had before was always tipping up. This one can take a heavier child, up to the age of five, and with all her equipment.

“Summer gets tired very easily and than relies on me to carry her, which I can’t do for long.

“It is better as well because of the easy access to the tray underneath. I can slip the stuff in easily.”

She said Summer loved the buggy as soon as it arrived last week and wanted to get in it straight away.

Members of Adur East Lions Club visited the family on Monday to see the results of their fundraising.

To find out more about the Lions, visit the club’s Great Spring Bake on March 22 at 165 Upper Shoreham Road, Shoreham, from 11am to 1pm. More details available by ringing 0845 8337356.