It's tough keeping young kids like Harry Cross engaged in physiotherapy sessions, but a recent trial of a MotoMed mobility machine certainly had the four-year-old animated.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Woonona boy was left with hemiplegia - paralysis of the left side - after surgery to remove a brain tumour two years ago.
Regular physiotherapy is helping restore movement but the MotoMed exercise machine - which features a gaming console to motivate kids to use both sides of their bodies - would work wonders.
Senior paediatric physiotherapist Joanne Morrell is urging the Illawarra community to get behind the Wave FM 2014 Lamington Drive which aims to raise $12,000 to purchase a MotoMed for the region.
Ms Morrell said the machine would help hundreds of Illawarra children with a range of conditions and physical impairments to build strength and movement.
"Under the supervision of a physiotherapist this machine allows these children to exercise all parts of their body," she said. "They can either let the machine do the work or they can actively participate in the exercise.
"Children are encouraged - through games onscreen - to increase the amount of work they do and also to work both sides. So if a child has a weakness on one side, like Harry, then they have that motivation to use, and in turn strengthen, that side."
Harry's mum Lynda said that by making physio fun, the MotoMed would get children more involved in their recovery.
"Harry was a normal, healthy three-year-old and then all of a sudden his eye turned in and an MRI revealed that he had a brain tumour," she said.
"Brain surgeon Charlie Teo operated in late October 2012 and while the surgery went well Harry was left with hemiplegia. A scan just before his fourth birthday showed the tumour was growing again and he had another operation in November last year.
"Jo has helped us throughout and it's amazing what physio does. When Harry got a chance to trial the MotoMed, he just loved it and I think it would really give him the chance to progress before he starts school next year."
More than 50,000 lamingtons were sold during the inaugural Wave FM Lamington Drive last year, and breakfast announcer Travis Winks hopes to beat that.
"We were able to purchase two Walkaides and other equipment for kids' rehabilitation at Wollongong Hospital last year and this year the MotoMed is on the top of the wish-list. When you look at what it can do, and how versatile it is, it's sad that this machine is not yet available in the region."
Lamingtons from Betta Maid Cakes and Pies are $10 a dozen and can be ordered through Wave FMs website, which also gives details of pop-up lamington stores at Stockland Shellharbour in the next two weeks.