A Berkeley Institute student is hoping for sporting success after her schoolmates helped to raise money to buy her a new wheelchair.

Daniella-Jade Lowe, 15, needs the purpose-built sports wheelchair to allow her to take part in all the physical activities her fellow students at Berkeley enjoy.

And now, thanks to the efforts of pupils and teachers — and a donation from the Argus Group — she will soon be in possession of the $5,000 piece of equipment.

PE teacher Richard North organised a basketball event for the whole school which raised $2,500 towards the cost of the chair. Science teacher David Chapman then wrote to the Argus Group asking for the balance — and the insurance company yesterday handed over a cheque for $1,500 to Daniella-Jade, who is known as DJ.

Mr. North said: “She’s a lovely girl and she participates in every class we do but at the moment she has just been limited with regard to the equipment she’s got. “This is going to make a huge difference. She is going to be a lot more mobile and the chair is extremely light — you can pick it up with one hand.”

Mr. Chapman said: “She needs the chair. She’s only in her second year so she won’t be able to participate in PE without it. It doesn’t make sense having all these great facilities if she can’t do some of the things they are doing here.”

The new chair, which has angled wheels, is being made-to-measure for DJ, who has spina bifida, by a company in Canada. She said: “I think it’s very great that they have been able to get the money for this. I’m very happy. The chair is for different sports but I’m really interested in tennis.”

DJ, from St. George’s, is Berkeley’s only physically challenged student. She said the new school, which opened last September and has disabled access and elevators, was a vast improvement on the old building. It’s much better. Last year I couldn’t go to all of my classes because it wasn’t as accessible. Now I can. I’m very happy about it.”

Her mother Hyacinth said: “I really appreciate the efforts of everyone.”