Volunteer Tradespeople to Begin New Project for Amputee Plumber

VOLUNTEER TRADESPEOPLE from national construction charity Band of Builders (BoB) are set to create a wheelchair-friendly wet room at the home of a former powerlifter who lost his leg after a freak accident while working as a plumber.

Mark Willerton ran a business converting bathrooms until 2019 when he ruptured the tendons in his right leg after picking up a packet of screws from his van. He’s not worked since then, as he has undergone three lots of surgery – which all failed, and the only option left was to remove the leg.

After he fell on his stump in the small ensuite bathroom at his home, Mark realised that the bathroom needed to be bigger – but he is unable to do the work himself in such a confined space.

BoB Begins New Project

Band of Builders responded to a call for help from Mark and wife Lynne, with half a dozen tradespeople from the BoB community having already volunteered to help convert Mark’s bathroom. The week-long project is set to take place at the end of August.

Mark expressed his frustration that he couldn’t do the job himself but recognised he cannot access the current ensuite safely. He said: “I’m so grateful that Band of Builders will be able to help me and my family.

“I know exactly what needs doing and am gutted that I can’t do it myself – but when it is done, it will make a huge difference to the quality of my life.”

The project will make the bathroom bigger and allow Mark to use the facilities more easily. This will involve making the bathroom into a wet room with a large shower with a fold-down seat, as well as widening the room to make the bathroom more accessible.

>> Read about more Band of Builders projects in the news