SIX months after an article appeared in the Farnham Herald telling the sad story of crash victim Robert Bridger, The Hedgehogs charity presented the 35-year-old with a new electric wheelchair that his family say has already transformed his life.

Robert, of Roman Way, was aged just 14 when he was hit by a car near the Badshot Lea crossroads days before Christmas in 1996, leaving him severely brain damaged and with motor control issues and tremors in both his legs and hands ever since.

As there were no witnesses to the crash, Robert, now 35, wasn’t awarded any compensation, and with his mobility issues worsening, he has been a prisoner in his own home for much of the past decade.

Tragically, just a year before Robert’s accident, his dad Michael suffered a serious stroke and has also been severely disabled ever since - leaving mum Marion, who is herself in remission from cancer and turned 70 in June, the full-time carer for both her son and husband.

The Herald reported on the family’s plight in May, and touched by the story, Farnham man Mark Smalley set up a GoFundMe account and, with the help of the Facebook community, raised almost £700 toward the electric wheelchair Robert’s family said he so desperately needed.

The Hedgehogs were also inspired to take action and, after making contact with Marion, helped organise an assessment of Robert’s needs and requirements through the occupational therapist unit at Farnham Hospital.

The assessment took place at the Queen Elizabeth Foundation Neuro Rehabilitation Services at Banstead in early June.

The assessment report was received at the end of June and determined that Robert would greatly benefit from the provision of an electric wheelchair which would aid his movement around his home, lessen fatigue from use of a manual wheelchair, and improve his independence inside and outside his home.

Hedgehogs members, in particular Ian Donald, himself a wheelchair user, Clive Cook and Howard Warner, have been closely involved with the Bridger family throughout the testing of a variety of electric wheelchairs.

In August, an order for the most suitable chair was agreed, followed by a lifting mechanism to be fitted to the Bridgers’ family car.

Mark’s GoFundMe donations of £676 were allocated to the costs associated with the lifting mechanism.

The total package for Robert’s needs was finally in place at the end of September, including a three-year warranty and insurance cover for the chair.

Mr Donald said at Tuesday’s handover of the chair: “Without the support of the Hedgehogs we don’t know how long it would have taken Robert to secure an electric wheelchair. The Farnham Herald were instrumental in bringing the needs of Robert to the attention of readers and the Hedgehogs.

"The Hedgehogs are delighted that we have been able to support Robert and his family through the provision of his wheelchair package.”

Speaking to the Herald, Marion expressed her gratitude to The Hedgehogs, Mark and The Herald, adding that the wheelchair has already made a huge difference to her son’s life.

“He’s so different,” she said. “He’s happier in himself and is smiling a lot more than he was. He loves the independence, and a lot of our stress has gone now, it’s lifted. Thank you.”