Many of the children at Rainbow Hub are benefiting from the IKAN brace, a rehabilitation device for children who find it difficult to stand and/or walk due to various physical and neurological disabilities.
The charity, which supports children from across the Northwest, has been working with Quantum Healthcare Products who supply the brace which has helped many children throughout the world, giving them the opportunity of an inclusive lifestyle and putting a smile on their faces.
Designed and manufactured to aid professionals treating children below the age of 14, the company worked closely with healthcare experts to create a product that meets the needs of the children – aids that are adjustable, available for a wide user age, have tamper-proof degree locks and removable handles for ease with sitting, using with walkers or track hoists. Offering a world of inclusion and ‘firsts’.
The iKAN brace breaks down many barriers and gives opportunities which many families thought would not be possible. From playing basketball in the garden to hugging your best friend. To some people these are small little things, to others they are a dream come true and, like so many things at Rainbow Hub, they can be life changing.
Brooke Emmington (12) from Preston loves the IKAN brace and her mother Phillipa said, “The IKAN brace has given Brooke a different outlook on the world. It has enabled her to stand and take steps and feel more free. Her core strength and stepping skills have also improved. I would highly recommend it.”
Michelle Jones, mother of Violet (7) from (Liverpool) said, “the brace has given Violet a bit of independence and she is so much happier in it than any other walking frames we have tried in the past.”
Jo Ashcroft, Head of Conductive Education at Rainbow Hub is delighted with the success of the brace and said, “The IKAN has helped us get children who have required a slightly different approach back onto their feet. It enables them to learn to weight bear with less support than some of the other more generic equipment used. The IKAN is exciting because it promotes the development of learning. As the child becomes more confident and steadier, the IKAN has the option to reduce the support and allow the child more flexibility and mobility. This teaches vital skills like the transference of weight (stepping) and sit to stand transfers; it also builds stamina and strength. I particularly like the IKAN because it gives the child some independence to experience life on the same level as their peers.”
But Quantum Healthcare’s support for the children at Rainbow Hub does not end with the IKAN braces. They have supported the Annual Ball and the Rainbow Ramble where several members of the company took part. Recently, Managing Director, James Edgar also presented the charity with a donation of £5,000 and said, “Rainbow Hub is an amazing charity, and to witness first hand the fantastic therapy children and adults receive there meant we wanted to support them as much as we can.
Children deserve the best therapy but unfortunately it is hugely expensive but they can access many free therapy and support sessions at Rainbow Hub meaning the charity has become a lifeline for so many families. We have met so many children who have benefited so much from these sessions and, through our partnership, children have been given the opportunity to use an iKAN brace for tanding, sitting and walking during their therapy time at Rainbow Hub.
More information about our iKAN brace can be found at: www.ikanbrace.com
He continued, “We at Quantum Healthcare Products are very proud to recently present Rainbow Hub with our donation and know it will make a huge difference for the children and adults who access the life changing therapies on offer by the team.”
Lyndsay Fahey, Chief Executive, Rainbow Hub, said, “the support we have received from James and everyone at Quantum Healthcare has been amazing. We cannot thank them enough and look forward to continuing to work with them for the benefit of the children who rely on our services so much.”