1:49p.m. 18th March 2008

Grace Fordham, 10, with her new chair, donated by surfers, like Zack Starret, who surfed in The Board Meeting event. Photo: Barry Leddicoat /173366

An uncomfortable chair is a little irritating at the movies. Or it can make you restless on a long trip.

But if it is the place you live, day in day out, it’s a nightmare.

Grace Fordham has lived in an uncomfortable chair for the past few years, but her life has changed for the better with the arrival of a flash new wheelchair from Canada.

The chair has a tilt option, which means the 10-year old, who lives with Rett Syndrome, will finally get the support she desperately needs.

Grace’s mum, Rhonda, said the chair was a welcome relief.

“In the other chair she used to slump a lot, so it’s a peace of mind.”

Rhonda said her daughter’s condition weakened her.

“Everything’s too much effort for her during those times – even eating.

“But now she can relax, she doesn’t have to concentrate on holding herself up.

“I used to feel embarrassed when her head would be down on the tray in the other chair.”

Government funding partly paid for the $6000 chair. The rest of the money came from The Board Meeting, an annual fundraising event organised by Coast surfers.

The event began in 2003 and is run on the second weekend of November each year.

Over the last four years, $50,000 has been raised for local charities.