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The partnership between Jenx, of Herries Road, Hillsborough, a market leader in the production of postural support equipment for children, and New York-based supplier Rifton was marked with a special celebration event at Sheffield Wednesday FC’s Hillsborough Stadium.

More than 100 delegates from the businesses attended, as well as representatives from other local organisations, charities and schools.

The partnership has led to growth of the sales team at Jenx and its UK distribution division, Jiraffe, by more than 300 per cent since it was established in 2005.

Joe Keiderling, Rifton general manager, said: “Our relationship with Jenx is unique.

“We work with distributors all over the world, but always look for our partners to share our concern that children with disabilities deserve the best equipment we can possibly provide.

“We’re involved in this business for many reasons, among which is that it is an honourable profession, but also probably the most rewarding work we can do.”

Jenx was founded by product designer Catherine Jenkins and her husband Clive, a paediatric physiotherapist, in 1982, with the aim of enriching lives and changing perceptions about disability.

Holly Jenkins, their daughter and a director of Jiraffe, said: “Jenx has made a positive difference to so many people and for me personally, is more a and a privilege passion to help than a job.”

“To work with Rifton, who share our key values, is a phenomenal opportunity and to have that partnership which is so strong and changes the lives of so many people – is hugely rewarding.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to go home each day knowing that you’ve made a difference.

“We have lots of plans over the next few years, and lots of product development being discussed with our friends at Rifton. There are exciting projects in the pipeline that are going to allow us to make a difference to even more children and their families.”

Kate Allatt – a Sheffield-based Locked-In Syndrome survivor, global activist, internationally published author, TEDx speaker and researcher – was the event’s special guest, and praised Jenx and Rifton’s products for helping to ‘open up the world’ for children.

Kate said: “I’ve got experience of what it’s like to exist in a wheelchair, and how society isn’t geared up for wheelchair users.

“I’ve seen it by going shopping with my daughter – the way clothes are hung out, the pain you feel sitting in a wheelchair, the posture issues. Everything Jenx, Jiraffe and Rifton do is about enabling children to be the best they can be, and if they believe really hard, they can do anything.”