TEENAGE twins who were born with cerebral palsy have found a new independence after a charity donated two cutting-edge wheelchairs that have changed their lives.

Orlanda and Marissa Tasker, who are 15 and from Brighton, are now able to pursue their interest in cooking and are gaining catering qualifications after receiving their Scandinavian-built Balder F290s.

Both girls have used NHS wheelchairs since the age of three, but as they reached their teens, their desire for greater independence has grown stronger.

Cerebral palsy, a neurological condition, affects movement and co-ordination, and Orlanda and Marissa require extra care from their mother, Sharon.

It was when the twins, who attend Blatchington Mill School in Hove, and their mother were attending an X Factor Tour concert in Brighton and were sitting next to a disabled boy that they spotted his specialist wheelchair, made by Scandinavian healthcare specialist Etac.

“The boy was sitting in an amazing-looking electric wheelchair,” explains Sharon. “We got chatting to him and he showed us all the functionality of his cutting-edge Balder chair, which provided a huge variety of seated positions.

“As my girls can’t walk or stand unaided, they already used powered wheelchairs for daily mobility. However, access under tables, school desks and reaching in cupboards was difficult, and I could see on a daily basis that Orlanda and Marissa were struggling at home, especially accessing parts of the kitchen, and this lack of mobility meant learning at school was hard. They both have a keen interest in cooking and their desire is to achieve qualifications in catering.

“With its varied actions, the Balder could help with all of these common situations.”

As Sharon was unable to afford one, let alone two of the hi-tech wheelchairs, she applied to a selection of charities for a donation and one of them agreed to provide funds to help buy two Balder wheelchairs. They have a standing function that could provide health benefits for the twins through improved circulation, posture and reduced pressure, and eye-to-eye engagement with standing able-bodied people is possible, a benefit that can help wheelchair users feel more equal. Other built-in functions include a seat recline, raise/lower and tilt forward, and high levels of manoeuvrability for drivers. Specialists from Etac visited the girls to assess their individual needs and to ensure that the Balder F290 was the ideal powered wheelchair for them. Once Etac’s prescription was sent to the charity, approval was given for the chairs to be hand-built in Norway and featuring specially requested Porsche-style metallic gold and silver paint work.

Orlanda says: “I know I can’t do much for myself, but my Balder has given me independence outside to enjoy shopping in town with my mates. I don’t worry about getting stuck as the battery life is so great and I’m not as tired after being out. Etac has improved my life, and my sister’s life so much too.”

Sharon says: “When the chairs arrived, the girls were absolutely over the moon. What a difference they have made. I can now confidently let them go into Brighton on the bus independently, and school life and transportation is so much easier. The battery life of the Balder gives them extended range, and peace of mind too, and as we live on a steep hill, going to the local shop is no hassle as these powerchairs have superb performance and traction.

“When they tried to go out in a manual wheelchair or used their previous powerchairs, it was always a scary prospect and very tiring.

“That’s not the case any more. The girls can enjoy the outdoors now and there is no holding them back from fulfilling their ambitions in the kitchen.”