Page 26 - link magazine

26 The Link Magazine • January 1999
Advertiser takes up the challenge Woman's health
A father from Abbey Meads is tackling the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for SCOPE following centre under threat
his son's diagnosis with cerebral palsy. The future of Swindon's Well
Trevor Whittle and his wife, Three Peaks Challenge on 27 June, Woman Centre remains uncertain
Elaine, were devastated to be told Connor's first birthday. with no funding yet secured for
that seven-week-old Connor had This involves climbing Britain's 1999/2000 to cover running costs.
been born with the condition. Over highest peaks, Snowdon, Ben Ne- A doctor, clinic manager and
the last three months, with sup- vis and Scarf ell, in 24 hours. Join- nurses are supplied by East Wilts
port from family and friends, as ing Trevor will be his neighbour National Health Service. But
well as from SCOPE's helpline, Russell McBride, who is Connor's £30,000 a year, slashed in the Swin-
they have begun to come to terms godfather. don Council's budgetary cuts, is
with what this will mean. Already "The challenge is not an easy needed to keep the centre open.
they realise how truly special one," says Trevor, "but nor is cop- Based at the Health Hydro, the
Connor is. 'S ing and living with cerebral palsy." Well Woman Centre encourages
Now Trevor's company, Link "It costs £250 a year for SCOPE women to be responsible for their
advertiser, Spillers Furnishing, is to support a family. We are hop- own health and wellbeing.
organising a fundraising appeal * ing to raise at least £3,000, which They are looking to employers
for SCOPE, culminating in the will make a real difference to 12 to help out because healthy em-
local families." ployees will be more productive.
All money raised by the appeal Whether as an individual or rep-
ONE2ONE d will be presented to SCOPE once resenting a local company, if you
r the challenge has been ta can help with a donation, support
Taking up the challenge for Connor, To make a donation,, contact the centre's charity shop or volun-
from left Russell McBride, Elaine and Trevor or colleague Peter Hazell at teer please contact Sandra on
Assisting you in your own home Trevor Whittle Spillers Furnishing on 522329. 511064.
Marathon runners needed
Personal care
Escorting Two charities are lookingforpeo- At the cutting edge of technology
Housework ple willing to run for them in
April's London marathon. A golden Labrador named Tuppence belonging to Sue Mead stole the
+ Bathing
SCOPE has 150 places for runners show at the Swindon 'Volunteering Oscars' in November.
+ Shopping
to raise funds for children and
Gardening Sue, who lives in Nine Elms,
adults with cerebral palsy. was nominated for an award for
Inspected by Social Services For more information and an en-
the work she does with the blind.
Edna A Phelps try pack, call 0500 575 222. She herself was diagnosed as hav-
72 High Street, Wootton Basstett SN4 7AR Age Concern Swindon is asking ing creeping glaucoma at the age
Telephone: (01793) 850600 for runners with a place to support of 10. By the time she was 17 she
them. Call Jo Osorio on 692166.
was blind.
Tuppence is Sue's fourth guide
dog. Initially she was too scared of
SPIELERS dogs to consider the possibility.
But at 25 she went for her first 3
week training session to the Exeter
Guide Dog Training Centre and
Huge reductions has not looked back since. She
now gives much time and energy
throughout the store to The Guide Dogs for the Blind her work on both magazines, Sue
Association, talking to groups and
occasional articles. As a result of
1111 II1AIF panionship, confidence and inde- and husband Pete are currently
fundraising.
Sue says, "guide dogs give com-
testing a computer programme
pendence. They also break the ice
that will enable her to edit an au-
with strangers in a way a white
computer.
stick doesn't." dio publication digitally on her
Large reductions on all However she is keen to dispel Sue also tests Dolphin's prod-
the myth that you can just tell the ucts. They produce a voice system
special orders including dog where you want to go. Once, using an external synthesiser
when she was lost in London and (named 'Hal' after the computer in
Parker Knoll, G Plan, Nathan, La-Z-Boy, asked someone the way, they knelt '2001- A Space Odyssey') which
down to give the dog directions. allows a blind or partially sighted
Strongbow, Myers Beds, to name but a few. This is a common experience. person to use standard Windows
Your old furniture disposed of if required. Since 1991, Sue has also been packages. 'Cicero' enables Sue to
putting together an audio maga- 'read' her own letters - or even The
All major credit cards accepted. zine, 'The Whistler', for blind and Link. A printed document is
partially sighted computer users. scanned and the computer 'reads'
Sponsored by Dolphin Computer it to her.
Come and talk to the family run busi- Access Ltd, the quarterly maga- Alongside her voluntary activi-
ness that really cares!! zine has a circulation of over 400. ties, Sue is employed by the Bor-
Essentially it involves blind peo- ough of Swindon's Education De-
SPILLERS FURNISHINGS ple talking to other blind people partment to run a database. In her
about specific information relat- leisure time she enjoys television,
ing to blind computer use. theatre and cinema.
This follows on from an earlier Despite her initial fear, Sue is
involvement with another, general adamant that having a guide dog
I FREE DEUVERY ESTABLISHED 1843 ' audio magazine the 'Two Town was what provided her with a key
Talker', for which Sue still does to the rich variety of her existence.