January
The year got off to a fabulous start with confirmation of a whopping £320,000 donation from Genting UK, which was described by CHIPS co-founder Linda Lindsay as a “phenomenal act of generosity that will give the fundamental right of freedom to so many youngsters throughout the country.”
One of the first to benefit was 10-year-old Dawid Wyrzykowski who had his application for a bespoke wheelchair resplendent with mountain bike wheels for rough terrain approved. And the CHIPS chair couldn’t have gone to a more deserving young person.
Dawid who lives with his parents and older brother in Milton Keynes, has Cerebral Palsy which affects the left side of his body. He has difficulties with both gross and fine motor skills and is unable to reach out or grasp anything on that side. Dawid can stand independently but is only able to take a few steps, and even then, he has to hold on to something or somebody. His CHIPS chair will mean that he is no longer dependent on adults for all transfers and daily activities.
February
16-year-old Amelie Ward-Welch from Stourbridge, in the West Midlands, has a diagnosis of Desmoid tumour in her thigh. These are rare, noncancerous growths that develop in connective tissue and can occur anywhere in the body.
As a consequence, Amelie has an altered walking gait and struggles over long distances, which is also leading to hip and spine complications. Replacing her heavy and cumbersome chair with a lightweight version complete with a custom-made cushion that allows for contouring around the tumour delivers an improved seating position and reduces secondary complications.
The CHIPS funded chair has been transformative allowing Amelie access to the broader community including her access to education.
March
6-year-old Jody Khatir lives with her parents and younger brother in Manchester. Jody has a neuromuscular condition which causes severe muscle wasting and weakness affecting her whole body. She requires a high level of support and uses a hoist for all transfers.
Although she can shuffle across the floor, she is unable to weight bear so cannot transition to standing without a specialist frame. The provision of a CHIPS powered wheelchair means that Jody is now able to explore her world independently and socialise with her friends and peers.
April
In April CHIPS welcomed a new partner and supporter in the form of Game Nation, the progressive UK high street operator which operates 43 low-stake gaming venues.
Announcing the decision to adopt CHIPS, Game Nation CEO Mark Jepp said: “This is one of the most deserving charities that I have encountered. There’s no paid chief executive, CHIPS Trustees take no expenses and every penny raised goes to fund the purchase of chairs.”
Adding: “The work it undertakes is nothing short of incredible and we will be harnessing the skill, the talent pool and the energy of the Game Nation team together with the generosity of our wonderful customers to help generate more funds and help more youngsters.”
May
Stuart Hunter, Managing Director of Clarion Gaming put his body on the line completing the ‘Spartan Beast’ in aid of CHIPS. Regarded as among the most challenging endurance races open to amateur athletes Stuart tackled the 21km (13.1 mile) 30 obstacle trail course in the process raising crucial funds for the gambling industry charity.
Stuart completed the ‘Beast’ in a highly respectable time of 3hrs 51 minutes, raising over £5,000 for the children’s charity that he serves as a Trustee. Reflecting on the challenge which involved a 100m barbed wire crawl he said: “Running for CHIPS helped me turn the challenge of completing the Spartan into a force for good and reinforced the positivity that’s so important when you step so far out of your comfort zone.”
June
June saw CHIPS confirmed as Clarion Gaming’s charity partner. The announcement was made at the prestigious iGB Affiliate Awards, where CHIPS, co-founder and Trustee Linda Lindsay was invited to make a presentation to the assembled guests.
She said: “I am absolutely delighted partnering with the team at Clarion Gaming as we work to generate more funds to help children who have been denied the twin gifts of freedom and independence.
Many of the families CHIPS has helped over the years would not have been able to continue their children’s education with just a heavy pushchair supplied by the NHS but they’ve flourished and regained their independence and dignity with the powered chair that we have been able to provide thanks to the generosity of our supporters.”
July
In July CHIPS presented Vinay Verma with his chair. The 11 year-old who lives in Rugby with his Mum and twin sister, has Cerebral Palsy and whist he can move around inside his home using sticks and a walking frame when outside, he is unable to go far without wheelchair and assistance. His walking pattern does not allow him to keep up with his peers to explore the outside world, and his condition is getting worse as he gets older.
In 2020 CHIPS presented Vinay with a ‘Zippie youngster’ wheelchair which he has outgrown. The chair is being refurbished in preparation for use by another youngster.
August
Aveena Bawa is 12 years old and lives with her Mum and younger sister in Nottingham. Aveena has a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy. She has significant weakness in both legs and had bilateral hip surgery in 2023 and 2024.
Aveena’s main form of mobility at home is ‘bottom shuffling’:at school she uses a supportive walker outside and inside she is able to walk a few metres with a postural control walker.
Her CHIPS powered wheelchair was presented in time for Aveena’s progression to secondary school which is on a much larger site and harder to navigate. The chair has given Aveena access to the local community and made going out with her family much easier.
September
The prestigious Woburn Golf Club which has staged 60 professional tournaments and has a role of honour that reads like a ‘Who’ s Who’ of world golf, welcomed 107 gambling industry golfers to the annual CHIPS Charity tournament in September.
The golfers negotiated Woburn’s Marquess Course in the process helping to raise £40,000 for the charity. 500 Logistics won the tournament for the second consecutive year with Clarion Gaming 1 runners-up. Stephanie Williams of Clarion won the Ladies prize.
October
At the beginning of October Game Nation handed over its first CHIPS powered wheelchair to 11-year-old Alfie at a presentation held at Game Nation in Southampton. The fundraising, which was completed months ahead of target represented a case book example of a company and its community of colleagues, customers and suppliers joining together in a common cause – in this case providing the gift of freedom to a young boy and his family. Game Nation HR Director, Julie Redfern said: “We are so proud that our customers have really embraced the charity and without them we simply wouldn’t have been in a position to present our first chair so far ahead of target. When I first said we will get our first chair by the end of December I was secretly thinking goodness have I over promised, but I am super proud how quickly everyone got behind what I refer to as our charity. I believe we have the best team in the industry and this just proved how right I was!”
November
16-year-old Timothy Gamarcha lives with his parents and younger brother in Deal, Kent. Timmy has a diagnosis of ‘left side hemiplegia’ recurrent migraines and learning difficulties. He can walk short distances inside his home, but is unstable outside and is only able to manage a few steps.
The NHS has provided Timmy with a heavy manual wheelchair, which due to his hemiplegia is not practical. He is only able to manage a couple of rotations, before anxiety sets in and he gets migraines. CHIPS Trustees have approved the application for a lightweight manual wheelchair which will give Timmy the independence he desperately craves, enabling him for the first time to go to the shops to get a loaf of bread, to go to a quiet place if he feels a migraine approaching and to be able to go out with his friends without having to be accompanied by a designated adult.
December
CHIPS Trustee Stuart Hunter and Margaret Dunn, Portfolio Director responsible for ICE Barcelona made Christmas come early for two youngsters who received their new wheelchairs in a presentation at the NEC Funland.
This represented the first time that either of them had been independent and mobile – quite literally changing their lives.
Genting UK ended the year as they started it with another donation of £70,000. Combined with the Just Giving contributions Genting donated an amazing £400,000 over the course of just 12-months providing the foundation stones for CHIPS to continue its work and get closer to making its 800th wheelchair presentation.
For more information on the work of CHIPS and how to get involved contact Linda Lindsay via
Originally published on Coinslot on January 19, 2026. Republished with permission.