A girl with a severe disability is to receive a £13,000 electric-powered wheelchair.

Ria Thomas, from Thorpe Astley, has quadriplegic cerebral palsy – affecting all her limbs.

It means the 10-year-old relies on a powered wheelchair to get around – including for school activities at Ashfield Academy, in Evington, Leicester.

She has outgrown the wheelchair she had and parents Claire and Neil were unable to find the money to replace it.

Mum Claire said: "Ria has undergone more than 20 operations but needs a new powered wheelchair to replace the one she outgrew 12 months ago.

"Since then, she has had to rely on people pushing her in a normal wheelchair.

"Despite her difficulties, she is very capable, but has had to grin and bear all her friends playing without her."

A new wheelchair is now on its way to Ria, however, thanks to two national children's disability charities.

Caudwell Children is meeting 80 per cent of the cost, while The Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children has agreed to meet the outstanding balance of £2,681 after staff at Midlands Co-operative Society selected it as their chosen charity.

"Having a powered chair again will provide Ria with a bit of independence," said Claire.

"At Ash Field Academy, many of her school friends have powered wheelchairs and this will allow her to keep up with them in the playground and not have to rely on adults to push her around.

"This new powered wheelchair will mean a new lease of life for her."

The equipment will help Ria in all aspects of her daily life, including being able to help her dad Neil take the family dog for a walk and explore her park.

Claire said: "Both my mother and aunt work in the cashiers' department of the Midlands Co-operative's Glenfield supermarket, in Leicester.

"The society is well known for its charity work and it is fortunate for us that we live in the trading area and can benefit from the amazing fund-raising efforts of their colleagues across the county.

"We want to thank everyone involved in helping to restore Ria's independence."

Ria is the sixth Leicestershire child to benefit from Midlands Co-operative Society funding since its partnership with Newlife began in May last year.

Staff across the county have raised more than £170,000.

David Brown, manager of Glenfield Co-op, said: "As a regional retailer, we always ensure our staff-elected charity supports people in need in our trading area.

"I am delighted we have been able to help Ria and her family."

It is not the first time Newlife has helped the Thomas family, having previously provided Ria with a specialist chair, buggy, wheelchair and car seats.

It has made 206 equipment grants in Leicestershire, totalling £213,483.

www.newlifecharity.co.uk

www.caudwellchildren.com

Health bosses have beaten targets for limiting the spread of the superbugs MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C diff).

They are now also considering a new treatment to help prevent the future spread of C diff.

There were 94 cases of the infection between April 1, 2012, and the end of March this year at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. The target was 113.

Only two cases were recorded of MRSA – which is difficult to treat because it is resistant to many antibiotics – against a target of six for the year.

However, the trust will now face financial penalties if patients pick up either of the infections while in hospital.

They it have to pay for the entire treatment of any patient who gets an MRSA infection while in hospital.

In addition, there will be a £50,000 penalty for every patient over the target number of 67 who is affected by C diff.

Dr David Jenkins, a consultant microbiologist at Leicester's hospitals, said: "We have improved hand hygiene and environmental hygiene.

"All adult inpatients are offered daily washes with disinfectant soap.

"All those in hospital also have the body wash while they are there.

"Those considered high risk, such as having surgery and having medical lines into the body, are given anti-bacterial ointment up their nose, where the MRSA bacteria is often found."

Dr Jenkins described the "zero tolerance of avoidable MRSA" set by the Department of Health as "challenging".

He said: "We will carry on doing the things we know work such as hand hygiene and environmental hygiene such as cleaning.

"We also have some of the most rigorous antibiotic controls and have led the way in this.

"We do have knowledge of potential new drugs up our sleeves for C diff.

"There is some promise the new treatment may prevent the development of spores, which are very difficult to kill and which lead to spread of the infection.

"There is also evidence it reduces the number of relapses of the condition, which is very unpleasant."

The cost of the treatment, a new antibiotic, is £1,300 for a day course.

Dr Jenkins said: "If it works, it is going to be cost-effective."

In 2007, Leicester's hospitals were given £1.1 million by the Department of Health to combat infections after 1,920 cases of C diff were recorded the previous year and linked to 80 deaths. In 2002, figures showed that 163 patients at Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General and Glenfield Hospitals contracted MRSA.

Martin Hindle, chairman of the trust, described the latest infection rates as "a real success story".

He said: "We have had a very busy year and to only have two MRSA infections and see a reduction in C diff is a major and significant achievement."

A pub is holding a fund-raising tea party to help people unwind at the end of the bank holiday weekend.

On Monday, May 6, the Landsdowne, in London Road, Leicester, will be raising cash for the Edgar's Gift charity.

There will be tea and cakes and stall-holders will be donating 20 per cent of their takings to the charity.

Edgar's Gift was sets up in memory of Ben "Edgar" Edkins, of Whetstone, who died aged 25 in 2010 of a rare and aggressive form of muscle cancer.

The charity provides day trips and holidays for young adults with cancer.

Pub marketing manager Melanie Adams said: "Part of the pub will be used to host the tea part from noon to 5pm and we'll be asking people for £1 to come in and enjoy some tea and homemade cakes.

"There will also be stalls including vintage clothing, handmade jewellery and a nail bar.

"I wanted to us to have a chilled-out event at the end of the bank holiday weekend and also raise money.

"Edgar's Gift is a really good cause and they deserve more exposure."

To find out more about the charity, visit:

www.edgarsgift.co.uk

High school pupil Yasmin Al-Rawe loves her mum so much that she could not help nominating her for our Mum of the Year Awards.

Yasmin, 12, and her twin brother Adam live with single mum Rachel Al-Rawe in Bushby.

Yasmin, who attends Gartree High School, is one of the youngest people to put forward a nomination.

If 47-year-old Rachel is chosen by the judges, she will enjoy a luxury break staying at the Polonia Palace Hotel in Warsaw with £250 spending money.

Yasmin said: "I am nominating my mum because I love her so much and she gives me anything I want.

"She looks after me and keeps me warm and healthy. I could not ask for a better mum.

"She works very hard to look after me and my brother Adam and, as she is a single parent, she has to do that by herself."

Rachel said: "I think it is very sweet of Yasmin to nominate me.

"She is such a loving child and is always texting me with her news from the day at school until we meet back at home.

"Yasmin and Adam are lovely children and I am very touched by what Yasmin has said about me."

Nominations for the Mum of the Year close on Monday, May 6.

The judging panel, which includes Amanda Philips of sponsors Haymarket Shopping Centre, Kiran Parmar of fellow sponsors the City Rooms and representatives from the Leicester Mercury, will assess all the nominations at a meeting on Monday, May 13.

They will pick a short-list of eight candidates who will be invited to an awards lunch at the City Rooms on June 27, when the winner and two runners-up will be revealed.

Mr Parmar said: "I will be helped on the judging panel by my mum Sharon.

"I cannot wait to see all the inspirational stories that have been submitted."

An appeal for unwanted tennis balls to protect harvest mice in a country park has met with a fantastic response.

The appeal by Leicestershire County Council, featured in the Leicester Mercury, resulted in about 200 balls being donated to rangers at Watermead North Country Park.

The balls will now be made into artificial nests for the tiny mammals – Europe's smallest rodents – at the park's Wanlip Road site.

Areas of the eight-acre Norfolk reed plantation – favourite habitat of the harvest mouse – had been flattened by flooding, causing damage to nesting areas

Dale Osborne, senior ranger at Watermead, said: "We've had people turning up with tennis balls from far and wide – the response has been absolutely fantastic.

"We wanted about 200 balls and we've now got more than enough.

"I want to thank everyone who has contributed and they have each played a part in helping to protect the mice."

For more information about Watermead North and other country parks in Leicestershire, phone 0116 305 5000 or e-mail:

countryparks@leics.gov.uk

www.leics.gov.uk/countryparks

There is also a Facebook site dedicated to Watermead North at:

www.facebook.com/ watermead

Organisers of Leicester Pride are staging a fund-raising event this weekend.

A drag cabaret evening has been organised at the Dover Castle pub, in Dover Street, Leicester, tomorrow.

Martyn Parker, Leicester Pride committee chairman, said such events were crucial to the survival of the carnival.

"The problem is, since 2010 we have seen a considerable reduction in all areas of our funding," he said.

"With each year, we find ourselves working even harder to find the money we need to stage the event.

"Without continued support from Leicester City Council, our sponsors and the community, we simply wouldn't be here.

"But, more than ever in 2013, we need the people of Leicester to support us so we can continue to promote awareness and celebrate diversity in our city."

This year's Leicester Pride is on August 31.

Mr Parker said: "We have market stalls and trading opportunities available at the main event and welcome anyone who might be interested in one of our sponsorship packages to get in touch.

"We are also always looking for volunteers to help us manage the event on the main day."

For more information, e-mail:

members@leicesterpride.com

www.leicesterpride.com

City MP Keith Vaz remains confident of staging the country's first mango festival in Leicester – with just 10 days left to get it organised.

The Leicester East MP wants Belgrave's Golden Mile to stage an extravaganza in tribute to the national fruit of India over the early May bank holiday weekend, mimicking the famous International Mango Festival held, in Delhi, every June.

A meeting involving the police, the city council officials and business representatives was held yesterday to discuss plans for the event.

Mr Vaz said afterwards: "I am extremely grateful to the city mayor for the support given to the proposal to have the first mango festival in Leicester.

"If it's going to go ahead, a lot of hard work needs to be done in the next few days. I am optimistic we will meet the deadline. We're not staging the Olympics, it's only a mango festival."

Mr Vaz has arranged the delivery of six giant wooden elephants to Leicester, which would form a key part of the festival.

An appeal was issued in the Mercury on Wednesday for people to look after the elephants in the run-up to the event.

Mr Vaz said: "I am delighted so many organisations have contacted my office and offered to look after one of the elephants.

"We will be having an X-factor style contest, the E-factor, if you like, to consider exactly where to put them, as we have more offers than elephants.

"The collective view is that we have everything we need to make this happen."

Dharmesh Lakhani, chairman of Belgrave Business Association, attended the meeting.

He said: "It is a very exciting opportunity for Leicester. I believe the costs will be met by the mango growers of Maharashtra. The elephants will be something different for the city.

"I think it is a good idea, but there isn't much time to get it organised, just 10 days."

Leicester City club ambassador Alan Birchenall battled through the pain of a bad back to complete his 33rd annual charity run last night.

The 67-year-old defied a chronic back problem to continue his charity fund-raising and completed 90 minutes of running laps around the King Power Stadium pitch ahead of last night's crucial final league game of the season against Watford.

The Birch, who had pain killing injections before the run, had plenty of support and was joined for a few laps by both teams, City vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, MP Keith Vaz and Leicester's boxing binman, Rendall Munroe, as well as runners who had donated £500 each to the Foxes Foundation for the honour of joining the Birch.

Last year, Birch broke the £1 million barrier for money raised from his runs since the first around Filbert Street in 1980 and all funds raised will go to the club's Foxes Foundation charities for the season, The Lord Mayor of Leicester's Stroke Appeal, the Silver Star Diabetes Appeal, Family support charity Home-Start, The Alzheimer's Society – supporting Leicestershire services, and the Foundation for the Welfare of the Mentally Ill Children of Thailand.

In addition, the Foundation will dedicate a part of this season's total to the provision of 10 potentially life-saving defibrillators in key areas throughout the county, working with East Midlands Ambulance Services to identify the most effective areas.

Last Sunday, I was one of thousands who completed the London Marathon. I reached the finish line five hours and 15 minutes after starting – 26.2 miles is a very long way.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me raise more than £2,500 for Rethink Mental Illness and Home-Start Charnwood.

Despite the blisters, running the marathon was an amazing and emotional experience.

It was given added poignancy by the tragic events in Boston only six days earlier.

Although my marathon attempt was in no way a world record, I am pleased to say one Loughborough resident has officially been crowned a Guinness world record-holder this week.

Loughborough University graduate Becky White, founder of Onesixeight fitness, received confirmation this week that she helped to lead the most people bouncing on trampolines simultaneously, with 302 people joining in last summer.

Congratulations, Becky.

On Thursday, it was announced Britain's gross domestic product had grown by 0.3 per cent in the first quarter of the year.

This is an encouraging sign our economy is healing and is good news.

The deficit is down by a third, businesses have created more than 1.25 million jobs and interest rates are at record lows.

We all know there are no easy answers to problems built up over many years – and we can't promise the road ahead will always be smooth – but by continuing to confront our problems head on, we are building an economy fit for the future.

In addition, as recent figures from Leicestershire Police have shown, crime continues to fall – recorded crime is down by more than 10 per cent under this Government and this week's independent survey shows that crime is at its lowest level since records began.

Our police have shown an impressive ability to accommodate necessary budget reductions while still cutting crime and we are grateful to them for all that they do.

I know they, and everyone involved with the policing and criminal justice system will continue to work hard to tackle crime and its underlying causes.

The 2012-13 session of Parliament has now concluded and we await the Queen's Speech on May 8, which will set out the Government's 2013-14 programme.

One of the last issues we voted on was a clause in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill on caste discrimination.

Clearly, any form of discrimination and prejudice is unacceptable, though there is very little evidence of caste discrimination in Britain.

However, the House of Lords expressed a very strong view that they wanted to extend our anti-discrimination laws to include caste as an element of race.

As a result, the Government has committed to consult before legislation is introduced.

I hope interested Leicester residents will take part in that consultation.

Ministers do not want to see caste become a permanent feature of British society and my view is legislation was not the right way to deal with an issue we hope will become a thing of the past.

Last Friday, I spent the morning out on shift with one of our ambulance crews.

If you have ever had to call an ambulance, you will understand that sense of relief when people see the crew arrive and they can take over helping the person who is in pain or has injured themselves.

I and other MPs do get complaints about our ambulance response times and I know East Midlands Ambulance Service is looking at solutions to this and other issues.

The time I spent out with the crew was invaluable in understand how calls are allocated and dealt with on the ground.

It was a real privilege to meet Ian and Richard and I am grateful to them for answering all my questions – even as we drove at great speed with blue lights flashing down the A6 to Leicester.