Shropshire Star

Scooter rideout to help get Telford mum Sam a bionic hand

Scooter riders are hitting the road on a sponsored ride across five countries to help a mother-of-four buy a bionic hand.

Published
Last updated
Samantha Gibson, from Telford, hopes to raise £30,000 for a robotic replacement so she can return to a flower arranging

Samantha Gibson, from Telford, whose entire hand had to be amputated after she accidentally injured a finger, hopes to raise £30,000 for a robotic replacement so she can return to earning a living as a flower arranger.

Family and friends are preparing for a sponsored ride from Shrewsbury to Stranraer to help her raise the money for the Give Sam a Hand Appeal.

Around 15 riders from Severnside Lions Scooter Club will hit the road for three days, covering 634 miles, on May 25.

WATCH Sarah explain her injury:

The round trip will travel from Shrewsbury to Fishguard in Wales, Rosslare in Eire, Belfast and then Stranraer in Scotland.

This will be followed by a fun day on July 8 at the Freemasons Hall, in Crewe Street, Shrewsbury, featuring a raffle, barbecue, bouncy castle, bar, stalls, DJ Ruff Reeves and singer Robbie Jones.

Raffle tickets cost £10 and the prize will be a Lambretto scooter.

Mrs Gibson injured her hand eight years ago

More details about stall bookings and the raffle is available on 07866 613844 and 07814 007163.

Samantha said: “We’ve so far raised about £2,000 with the help of an online collection and a sponsored walk in Snowdon, which made £680.

“With my family’s help we’re running some other activities to try and get closer to the £30,000 needed to get my bionic hand fitted.

“I saw my surgeon last week and he thinks there are issues with my stump.

“The cold weather isn’t helping at all but I’ve been okay otherwise.

“Unfortunately, I haven’t raised enough cash to order the hand but with the help of my children and friends we’re pushing on with some new ideas to help increase the fund.

“My brother is a member of the scooter club based in Shrewsbury and he arranged the five nations ride. I’m tagging along in the support van that’s accompanying the group.”

Mrs Gibson found her life was turned upside down when a simple act of cleaning up after her cat Cuckoo resulted in damage to the middle finger of her right hand eight years ago.

Despite treatment and surgery she struggled to recover and suffers from terrible pain.

To donate go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/givesamahand