A SCHOOLGIRL has launched an appeal to raise cash for a new electric wheelchair to give her more independence.

Aarohi Agashe, eight, from Headington, has cerebral palsy and uses a manual wheelchair, which her family bought at a cost of more than £2,000, and an electric wheelchair provided by the NHS.

But neither offer the Windmill Primary School pupil the flexibility to play and work normally with her friends.

Charity Newlife has offered to provide £5,000 for a powered chair, but the family needs to come up with a further £3,851.

Aarohi’s mother, Suranjana Guha, said: “It would make a major difference. She is very limited in the way she can use her chair because it doesn’t go up and down.

“At school, if they are sitting on the floor, she has to be taken out of the chair, the ICT room is on a different level, and in the classroom the other children are sitting at tables that are lower than hers.”

Mrs Guha said she hoped her daughter could use the new wheelchair for four or five years, depending on how quickly she grew.

Newlife has provided £52,520 in equipment grants for 50 children in Oxfordshire, but is experiencing increasing demands on its resources.

Chief executive Sheila Brown said: “Because of the huge demand, we are calling on local heroes to help us raise money to fund equipment.”

Mrs Guha is appealing for people who can help with fundraising to call 0800 9884640. Additional money donated will go towards other children in Oxfordshire.