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Queen Elizabeth鈥檚 Foundation for Disabled People (QEF) is a disability charity that has over 85 years鈥� experience of developing innovative services that can transform lives. The charity supports disabled adults and children across the UK and provide expert advice, assessments, therapy and care to almost 10,000 people a year; helping each person to achieve their potential and increase their independence.

QEF work with children and adults with physical and learning disabilities, supporting each person to be as independent as possible; as well as adults who require expert neuro rehabilitation following an acquired brain injury, stroke, incomplete spinal injury or neurological illness.聽

Whether it鈥檚 providing support and care to develop key life skills, neuro rehabilitation to rebuild a life after a brain injury, learning to drive a specially adapted car or a free mini powered wheelchair for children; QEF provide the expertise that enables each person to achieve their potential, so they can live life with increased confidence and independence.
The charity relies on the goodwill of supporters to raise vital funds so it can continue to provide free loan schemes for children and develop its services, so that more disabled people can benefit from its expertise and live as independently as possible.

鈥淚n 2006 I crashed at very high speed whilst filming. I was in a coma for two weeks and suffered head injuries that affected my awareness and perception. It took months of rehabilitation for me to recover and was a difficult and at times scary process for me and my family. That鈥檚 why I want to tell you about the vital work that goes on at QEF to help and support people with an acquired brain injury or another physical or learning disability. It warms my heart to know there are places like this to offer life changing care and support for people when they need it most.

I invite you to learn more about this brilliant charity and to hear the incredible stories of Edwina, Kumba, and Melissa鈥檚 twins featured in this appeal.

Through providing wheelchairs to disabled children, expert support to rebuild a life after a brain injury or stroke, and enabling disabled people to learn to drive, QEF provide the tools that allow people of all ages to achieve their potential and live as independently as possible.鈥�

In September 2021, Edwina suddenly lost movement in her legs. After weeks of testing in hospital, she was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis, a rare condition caused by inflammation of the spinal cord that resulted in Edwina being paralyzed from the waist down. After 3 months in hospital Edwina was desperate to come to QEF鈥檚 Care and Rehabilitation Centre to start her therapy. Edwina鈥檚 goal was to regain the use her legs, although no-one could give her any assurances that she would be able to walk again.

Almost as soon as she arrived, Edwina was in the gym and up on her feet with the aid of specialist equipment and support from QEF鈥檚 multidisciplinary team. After 7 months of neuro rehabilitation, Edwina is now walking around her home with the aid of a walking frame - progress that she could never have dreamed of when she was in the hospital only a year before.

Mum of triplets, Kumba, contracted polio when she was 4 years old, which affected the stability in her legs and made it painful for her to walk; even with crutches. Getting her children to school on public transport was immensely stressful. The children would run for the bus and have to ask the driver to wait until she reached the bus stop, as her wheelchair couldn鈥檛 go any faster. Kumba came to QEF Mobility Services to see if learning to drive could be an option and she has never looked back.

After an assessment with an occupational therapist, adaptations to a car, and driving lessons with specialist instructors, Kumba and her family are no longer dependent on public transport. Kumba鈥檚 heartfelt story shows us that for disabled people like Kumba driving is not a luxury, but an irreplaceable tool to improve their quality of life.

Melissa is mum of four-year-old twins Carter-Ray and Deacon-James, who both have Centronuclear Myopathy. Both are dependent on a ventilator to breath and are unable to walk or crawl. They are both too small for standard powered wheelchairs, and their ventilators need to be with them at all times so they can鈥檛 be anywhere without their parents.

The charity provided both twins with a Bugzi, a uniquely adaptable mini powered wheelchair for children. A special adaption to their Bugzi鈥檚 meant that their ventilators could be mounted on the back, enabling the boys to be truly independent for the first time. This new mobility meant the twins could explore the world around them, play with siblings and friends, and interact with their surroundings in their own way. They are also developing key skills which are incredibly important at this young age.