Robert Plant Signs Vinyl for Bewdley Campaign

[sam_webmaster]

By Jack Rawlins
 

Robert Plant with Dan Pennington-Bridges
(Image: Lindsay Wilson)

LED Zeppelin legend Robert Plant has thrown his support behind a campaign to help fund a specialist wheelchair for a determined tennis player.

Dan Pennington-Bridges, aged 20, from Bewdley, says he dreams of representing Great Britain in the Paralympic Games.

The Worcester University student, who has won a host of medals and trophies in the UK and abroad, is hoping to fund a brand-new wheelchair to help him improve his game and keep his dream alive.

Dan said his current wheelchair is "quite literally falling apart."

Dan said: "I'm currently trying my hardest to self-finance along with the help of my family to fund my tennis career including equipment and travel.

"At the moment I'm playing in a chair that wasn't made for me and doesn't fit me correctly, this causes some difficulty in reaching my full potential and achieving my dreams of representing GB in the Paralympic Games.

"The funds raised will be used to purchase a brand new RGK Grandslam X Sports Chair personally made to measure for me".

His mum, Sue Pennington, said her friend Robert Plant, who lives locally, wanted to help out after hearing about the campaign. 

He met with Dan and signed a limited edition Led Zeppelin IV vinyl box set for him to auction on eBay. Bidding ends next week and it's already raised £480.

Dan added: "It was quite a nice surprise. He was so generous. He was happy to help which was really nice of him". 

Sue said: "Dan was born with a genetic condition that affects his bones - he has had 16 operations to try to help but sadly he still needs to walk with crutches or use a wheelchair.

"Within reason, anyone can pick up a racket and get on court but he has used second-hand chairs and this desire to have chair fitted to his needs has been something he’s wanted for a while, this costs around £8k.

"We as a family fund his annual costs – training, travelling, competitions in the UK and abroad and it amounts to around £7 to £8k a year and he’d like to do more overseas competitions as that will help to improve his world ranking which is currently 70.

"So he set up his GoFundMe page to see if he could raise some funds towards it and it’s been amazing the support he's received.

"My friend George came up with the idea of a quiz to help which he put on at the Bewdley Inn with a load of helpers and local businesses offering raffle prizes which raised a whopping £2300 - a real community event".

She added: "I'm friends with Robert Plant and he'd seen all the effort Dan had gone to to try to raise money and he wanted to help him to raise funds and awareness, he couldn't come to the quiz as he was on tour with his band Saving Grace so he offered a Led Zeppelin limited edition box set and we met at the club so he could sign it and hand it over and we could put it to auction.

"It's been absolutely amazing - it's been shared over 800 times all over the world.

"People clearly love Robert Plant and it's such a generous thing to lend his time, name, and his huge popularity to Dan's cause".

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https://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/23956157.led-zeppelins-robert-plant-signs-vinyl-bewdley-campaign/

 

[SteveAJones]

Robert Plant and Dan Pennington-Bridges -- that's the Best of Britain right there. 

[custard pie man]

such a  great and inspiring story, wishing this kid well, nice job Robert

[Rodrigo]

Great news! 

[SuperDave]

So great of Robert to do this

[LedZeppfan1977]

Robert has s a class act all the way!!!  

[KnightsofNi]

Looks like he has lost few pounds.