Amazing Moray effort to help Archiestown pensioner Maurice
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Generous Moray folk have already raised more than £1000 in less than 24 hours to buy a car for a man with learning difficulties.
Maurice Dey, who's 73-years-old and lives in Archiestown, is supported by the charity Inspire in all aspects of his life.
But due to a change in company policy, staff are no longer permitted to use their own cars to drive Maurice about.
With only very limited public transport in the village, it means the pensioner now faces missing out on visits to see his family and friends.
With this in mind, an appeal was begun yesterday to try raise £5000 to fund a vehicle.
Anne Speake, a disability campaigner and also a good friend of Maurice's, said: "He needs to have a car of his own so his staff team can drive him to his social events and stop him becoming socially isolated from all that he loves.
"Maurice is a member of the Greyfriars Club as well as the Inspiring Darts Club.
"He also attends monthly discos around Moray where he can meet up with friends.
"But a taxi would cost over £100 each time he wants to go to Elgin.
"While visiting his sister in Buckie would mean Maurice having to use the dial-a-bus to take him to Rothes, then getting another bus to Elgin then yet another bus to Buckie.
"It's a journey of about two and a half hours each way which, given Maurice's health conditions and age, he wouldn't manage."
An appeal called 'Help Maurice Avoid Social Isolation' has now been set up on the GoFundMe website.
Anne said: "People with learning disabilities are much more at risk of loneliness and isolation, leading to mental health issues.
"We're urging people to help make Maurice's latter years as wonderful as he is.
"We'd love people to give what they can or spread the word."
Find the appeal here
