Dewsbury Moor pub plans fun day to help punter

Dave Penney suffers from various breathing difficulties which make it hard for him to leave the house.

To help him get out and about, the owners of the George in Dewsbury Moor want to buy him a mobility scooter.

They are hoping to raise the £2,000 needed to pay for it with a fun day this weekend.

Landlady Dawn Featherstone said: “We’ve only just taken over the pub but when somebody needs something, everyone pulls together and provides it.”

Mr Penney, 47, ran his own engineering firm until his health problems started to get on top of him two years ago.

He is now wheelchair-bound, but finds it hard leaving the house without someone to push him because of the problems with his breathing.

An electric scooter would mean that he could go out on his own and get some independence back.

Mr Penney, of Briar Drive, Dewsbury Moor, said: “A bit more independence would make a big difference.”

He cannot afford to buy the scooter himself because although he is unable to work, he is not eligible for benefits either.

“It was my wife, Kath, who approached the George and asked if we could do some fundraising, and they agreed,” he said.

“I used to have my own company and I have actually employed people I know from that pub. It’s a bit tear-jerking to have those people thinking about you.”

The fun day to raise money for Mr Penney takes place on Sunday. Attractions at the George, in Moor End Lane, will include a raffle, tombola, bouncy castle and a range of stalls.