National charity steps in to transform home of Solihull surveyor left paralysed in accident
The home of a Solihull dad-of-four left paralysed after a fall at home is set to be transformed thanks to a national construction charity.
Rob Lamb, 58, suffered a severe spinal cord injury when he fainted due to low blood pressure at home in October, leaving him paralysed from the chest down.
The quantity surveyor has been recovering at a rehabilitation centre in Oswestry but his home in Solihull needs specialist adaptations so he can live there safely.
After hearing about his situation, national construction charity Band of Builders stepped in and next month volunteers will descend on the family’s home, where Rob lives with his three sons, to make a range of adaptations that will allow him to return home.
From March 13th, a team of 60 volunteer tradespeople from across the country will spend nine days carrying out changes to ensure the house is safe and comfortable for the dad of four, including creating a downstairs bedroom and wet room complete with specialist equipment for his condition.
Rob, who was widowed when wife Julie died suddenly in 2017, lives with sons Callum, Gavin and Mackenzie, who plays for West Bromwich Albion’s youth team.
Gavin said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support we’ve received and still can’t quite believe this is all happening. When dad first got injured, we knew we’d need to make huge changes to the house for him to come home, so we started fundraising for those and for the care that he’ll need. Then Band of Builders stepped in and it’s taken a huge weight off.
“Not only does it mean the money we raised can focus on dad’s care, but it means we’ve got experts making sure everything is done right so the house is as safe and comfortable for dad as possible.”
Band of Builders is a registered charity that helps members of the UK construction industry battling illness or injury through the completion of practical projects.
Volunteers give up their time for free to work on projects, while materials are donated by companies across the construction industry. Rob’s Project is sponsored by Tarmac Blue Circle and will be led by BoB volunteers Tim Winch and Craig Cashmore.
Craig said: “This is probably one of the biggest projects Band of Builders has undertaken to date, but after months of planning we’re ready to get going and make a real difference to Rob and his family. It’s so important that the home he comes back to isn’t just safe, but is somewhere he can live comfortably and happily and the changes we’ve planned will definitely make that happen.
“The current situation doesn’t make it easy, but careful planning means we’ll have all the right measures in place to make sure we can do the work that’s needed and keep everyone safe, making sure Rob can get home to his family as soon as possible.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
- The project will start on March 13th and run for nine days. Media are welcome to visit for interviews/filming purposes but must arrange in advance. Please contact Ellen Manning at empr on 07515 717173 or ellen@weareempr.co.uk. Interviews can also be conducted remotely ahead of the project start date.
- Attached are images for media use of Robert Lamb and his family.
Picture 1. Robert Lamb
Picture 2. (L-R) Callum Lamb, Gavin Lamb, Robert Lamb, Robert’s late wife Julie, Tara Lamb and Mackenzie Lamb.
ABOUT BAND OF BUILDERS
Initially formed in 2016, Band of Builders is a registered charity (Charity Number 1182283) that helps members of the UK construction industry battling illness or injury through the completion of practical projects. For each project, volunteers come together to help their fellow tradespeople through renovations or repairs that make a real difference to their lives.
Previous projects have included:
- Installing a specialised bathroom for Pippa Atkinson, an electrician’s daughter suffering from a rare skin condition
- Landscaping a garden for builder Jamie Thompson, who is suffering from Motor Neurone Disease, so he can safely watch his children play, as well as installing a new kitchen.
- Finishing renovations at the home of Elaine Dunphy, whose husband Steve died of cancer before he could finish the work he had started.
- Creating a bedroom for plasterer’s daughter Sadie Jenkins, who had spent the first half of her life in hospital and needed machines to breathe, as well as installing a downstairs bathroom for her carers.
- Installing a summer-house and landscaping the garden for carpenter Dan McIntosh, who was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour, so he could spend precious time with his family.
For more information on how to become a member or how to apply for help from Band of Builders, visit www.bandofbuilders.org