Andrew rallies to help Romeo get his new wheels

A POORLY boy who needs a new set of wheels to get around has been given a boost this month (May, 2015) thanks to a family-friend who bid for a rugby jersey via an online auction.

The shirt was donated by us and will help three-year-old, Romeo Hadley from Wenvoe, who has had his legs amputated get a new wheelchair.

Gareth Howells, General Manager at our Hadfield Road dealership in Cardiff, explained: “Romeo has had both his legs amputated after contracting an extremely rare disease called Purpura Fulminans.

“We decided to donate a signed Cardiff Blues jersey to the Rally for Romeo appeal so they could auction it off to raise money to go towards Romeo’s new wheels and legs and help with a new life for him and his family.

“Andrew Miller, who lives in Wenvoe and is a Grounds Work Development Civil Engineer, bid £100 for the shirt. Andrew and his wife are friends of Romeo’s parents John and Kate and Romeo is also his son’s little buddy. We’re delighted the top we donated raised £100 thanks to Andrew and his bid.”

Purpura fulminans is an often deadly thrombotic disorder, which leads to small blood vessels clotting within the skin.

Doctors made incisions in to Romeo’s legs to relieve the pressure of the infection but the procedure was unsuccessful and surgeons had to perform a double leg amputation just above the knees. Within one month, Romeo had 16 operations to remove infected areas and to also have dressings changed.

Andrew added: “We’ve been supporting Rally for Romeo from the start and have donated money and also some prizes to the auction. We will continue to support Romeo and his family.

“I am a keen Cardiff Blues supporter but do not get to many of the games so I was delighted when I won the jersey. It was great that Rhys Patchell, who plays Fly Half for the Cardiff Blues, could present me with my prize.”

For further details about Rally for Romeo, please visit www.gofundme.com/lzphe0 or https://goo.gl/V0n7au.

For more information, please call our dealership on 02921 677 650 .

You can also keep up-to-date with our latest news and events by liking us on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/wessexgaragesor following us on Twitter www.twitter.com/wessexgarages.

Photograph caption: (From left to right) Rhys Patchell, who plays Fly Half for the Cardiff Blues, presents the jersey to Andrew Miller.