Applaud heroics through support (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Applaud heroics through support

10:50am Monday 24th September 2012 in Letters

Sir.–Our Paralympians are quite deservedly getting a world stage for their achievements.

But let’s not forget the millions more people with disabilities and those who care for them. They confront hurdles of a very different kind in their daily lives – hurdles of financial hardship, social isolation, ill-health, depression and despair.

In overcoming these obstacles, they are performing their own quiet heroics, day in, day out, with little recognition and even less support.

The sad truth is that even on the occasion of the biggest-ever Paralympics, disabled people and carers remain among the most disenfranchised and vulnerable members of society. I’d like to offer your readers the opportunity to help us change that.

I work for the disability charity Vitalise. We provide desperatelyneeded respite breaks for disabled people and carers at Netley Waterside House, our respite break centre in Southampton.

Our breaks are an absolute lifeline, enabling our guests to restore their ability to cope and rediscover their will to carry on. Without opportunities like these, life for them would be very bleak indeed.

I would like to ask your readers to join us in calling for greater recognition and support for people with disabilities and carers. We don’t get a penny from Government, but rely on the compassion and generosity of our supporters to keep on providing our vital services, so please help us.

To make a donation or for more information about our breaks, call 0303 303 0147 or visit vitalise.

org.uk.

–Colin Brook, Vitalise, Upper Street, London.