helping hand - Hertfordshire Action on Disability

Issue 5 Spring/Summer 2014
Helping Hand
Products, news and views from Hertfordshire Action on Disability
Sujata’s a
cut above!
- page 3
Well fancy that
Walk this way!
Stanborough School start a year of
fundraising - page 10
Anna’s on the march from London
to Brighton - page 13
Visit www.hadnet.org.uk
editorial / news
How partnerships can pay off
Helping older and disabled people
maintain their independence is what
HAD is all about.
Our accessible transport service
takes customers to work, medical
appointments, shopping or social activities
or, indeed, anywhere they want. Similarly
HAD’s driving centre helps people get
back behind the wheel of their car
following accidents, injuries or illness.
And the occupational therapists
and assessors working in our equipment
centre provide expert advice, information
and guidance to complement the huge
range of mobility products on offer.
Now, we’ve formed a partnership
with Papworth Trust and Welwyn Hatfield
Borough Council to provide help and
support to people wanting to stay in their
own home. It’s called Home Solutions and
means our OTs can help more people
stay in their homes for longer.
The service is a natural progression
for HAD, fitting in well with existing
projects like our successful OT home
assessments and seating clinics. You can
read more about the Home Solutions
service elsewhere in the magazine.
Another increasingly important
partnership sees strong links being
developed between our fundraising team
and local organisations, businesses and
individuals.
Local low-energy lighting experts
Megaman supported us last year and
were one of the main sponsors of
Hatfield Rotary Club’s Santa Run which
raised money for both ourselves and
fellow charity the Isabel Hospice. Hatfield
Rotary itself has been raising money for
us for well over a year and we can’t thank
them and Megaman enough.
Stanborough School is top class too.
HAD is their chosen charity this school
year and they have got off to a storming
start by raising more than £5,000 from a
sponsored fancy dress walk.
Big thanks also to Sujata Patel and
Gill West. Sujata, the wife of former
Hatfield Rotary president Mukesh Patel,
decided to have a sponsored hair-do, after
going more than 30 years without having
her long locks cut. Her new shoulderlength style not only raised over £4,000
but looks good too.
Last year’s lady captain at Welwyn
Garden City Golf Club, Gill West, also
pitched in by raising more than £2,000 brilliant effort.
To all these generous supporters
of HAD, and many more not mentioned
here, we’d like to say a big ‘thank you’, and
long may it continue!
PAUL BISHOP
EDITOR
Brig-Ayd’s ingenuity rewarded
One of HAD driving centre’s
partners - Brig-Ayd Control’s has
won a national award
Their range of products,
particularly the company’s new
Evotech hoist, were featured in the
Product of the Year category in a
country-wide awards ceremony.
The company’s MD Owen
Briggs, who designed the Evotech
hoist, was on hand to receive the
winning trophy at the 2013 Disabled
Motoring UK Awards event at the
Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon.
“This award celebrates the
ingenuity of designers who have
created products which help people
2
with disabilities get from A to B,”
a Disabled Motoring UK spokesman
explained.The hoist’s clever design,
incorporating a new hook and
removable spreader bar, creates
more boot space as Owen explains:
“This product has evolved over a 15
year period and we’ve been pinching
inches here and there throughout
that time.
“There are many factors
involved when producing a hoist
like this,” Owen said. “These include
the model of car, customers’
requirements and the type and size
of wheelchair/scooter.
“It’s nice to know it’s appreciated
and I’d like to thank all our staff and
also our nationwide network of
installers,” Owen concluded.
news
sujata patel / caring cuts spring fair
Hair raising!
Bernadette’s a cut above
with charity spring fair
CUTTING EDGE: Bernadette Haughian,
Danni Squire and Sasha Twyneham
First cut for 36 years pays off
Sujata Patel has gone to great
lengths to raise money for HAD.
The
Bricket
Wood
businesswoman and wife of Hatfield
Rotary Club’s past president
Mukesh Patel has collected a hairraising amount of cash after having
more than three feet of her long
locks cut.
Sujata, who has run the
Springfield Pharmacy in Jersey
Farm, St Albans since 1989, last had
her hair cut in 1977!
And now her first hair cut in
35 years has made a hair-raising
£4,500 for us.
For friends and family it was a
bitter pill to swallow but now she’s
showing off a new shoulder-length
look after most of her hair ended
up on the hairdresser’s floor.
“I’d been thinking about having
it cut for more than a year but I
couldn’t decide on a charity,”
Sujata said. “But when my husband
Mukesh told me HAD I decided to
raise money for them.”
The big cut took place at
the neighbouring Ro Ko Ko salon
where assistant manager Alistair
Marsh wielded the scissors. “I’ve
been a stylist for over 20 years and
this is the most hair I’ve ever cut
off,” he said.
There’s also some good news
for another charity. The Little
Princess Trust received Sujata’s cut
hair and has used it to make wigs
for children with cancer.
Busy local businesswoman and HAD supporter
Bernadette Haughian arranged a cutting edge
charity Spring Fair with a difference.
Bernadette, who runs the Caring Cuts salon
and Phase 2 Hair Academy in Park Street, Old
Hatfield, invited local businesses and individuals
to showcase their skills and talent at The Jim
McDonald Centre, Hatfield in March.
Bernadette and work colleagues Danni Squire
and Sasha Twyneham showcased all the latest styles
and cutting techniques.
Caring Cuts is well known in the local
community and lives up to its name by regularly
visiting older and disabled people’s homes, care
homes and the QE2 and Lister hospitals.
Future HAD fundraisers
Here are some dates for your diary:
Easter Monday Egg Raffle Draw, April 21.
Hatfield Rotary Walk, April 27,10am at
Campus West, WGC.
Anna Borthwick’s London 2 Brighton
sponsored walk, May 24.
Untouchables Blues Night, May 31, 7.30pm –
11.00pm at Wheathampstead Memorial Hall,
Marford Road.
Jazz on the Island, June 28, 7.30 – 11pm at 13
Lemsford Village.
HAD Golf Day, September 26, from 7.30am at
WGC Golf Club.
Hatfield Rotary Santa Run, Sunday December
6, 10 – 12am at Stanborough Lakes.
Sujata Patel with Alistair Marsh
Visit hadnet.org.uk for all the latest updates.
3
news
equipment centre
Minister of State for the
Disabled visits HAD
The Minister is joined by HAD board members Nigel Dotchin, Liddy Lawrence, Justin Patten,
Dave Cocks and Chief Executive Annabelle Waterfield
‘I was impressed with the support HAD gives’ – Mike Penning
Newly appointed Minister of State for Disabled
People, Mike Penning, visited HAD in February.
The Minister spent two hours at our Woodside
Centre HQ following an invitation from Chief Executive
Annabelle Waterfield.
The MP for Hemel Hempstead chatted to staff and
looked at our key services – our equipment centre, 24hour accessible transport service and driving centre.
Mr Penning said: “It is vital that disabled people are
given the same access to opportunities as non-disabled
people. Travel can sometimes be a barrier to this.
“So I was very impressed with the support HAD
gives to people with disabilities, particularly the work
they do through their transport service.
“We are working hard to break down barriers
through schemes such as Access to Work. This
provides financial support towards the extra costs
faced by disabled people at work and can include travel
costs, as well as support workers and specialist aids.”
Annabelle Waterfield was encouraged by the visit:
“It was a really positive meeting with the Minister
confident that some of his staff can come and work
with us in the future.
4
“Our relationship with Hemel Hempstead is
already a strong one as we have developed a good
association with the town over recent years. This was
enhanced when we launched our outreach seating
clinic in Alston Road, Boxmoor, last year.”
Minister of State for Disabled People, Mike Penning
and Annabelle Waterfield in HAD’s equipment centre
news
equipment centre/blue badges
Take a seat…
Jeanette McDermott gives customer Denice Reeves a
seating assessment and (right) at Boxmoor
Assessments so important
for comfort and health
HAD’s Thursday seating clinic at our Woodside Centre
HQ is getting busier all the time.
Demand for the weekly clinic is increasing according to
Occupational Therapist Jeanette McDermott: “The number
of customers so far this year is very encouraging. It seems
people are coming from all areas and have heard about us
from a variety of sources.
“Most customers are elderly and they often come
accompanied by a family member,” Jeanette explained.
“Some are referred to us by other health professionals,
others hear about us from friends or via the internet.”
The free clinic consists of an assessment that takes
about an hour and a half. When it is completed the
customer receives a written report with all the information
and measurements they need before investing in a specialist
chair.
“I often meet people that have spent a great deal of
money on a chair that’s not right for them. Getting the right
chair is vitally important, not only for their comfort but for
their long-term health,” Jeanette explained.
A specialist seating solution can make a big difference
to the customer’s comfort and will help promote a
more independent life. Achieving a comfortable seating
position that also provides effective support and pressure
distribution is vitally important.
To complement the clinics HAD recently opened a second
clinic in Hemel Hempstead.
It takes place on Tuesdays at the Social Centre for the
Blind’s building at 6 Alston Road, Boxmoor, HP1 1QU.
To find out more about the service or to book an
assessment either at the Woodside Centre or in Boxmoor, visit
www.hadnet.org.uk or call 01707 384260.
Blue Badges
online
Are you entitled to a Blue
Badge parking permit? The
Blue Badge scheme helps you
park your car closer to your
destination if you’re disabled.
The easiest way for Hertfordshire residents to find out
if they qualify and apply for a Blue Badge is online at www.
hertsdirect.org/bluebadge. People who already have a Blue
Badge are also able to easily renew online.
Colette Wyatt-Lowe, cabinet member for adult care
and health, said: “Blue Badges are essential for disabled
people to enable them to have access to all the facilities
and services other people have. Applying, renewing and
paying for Blue Badges online is so much easier and more
efficient.”
People without internet access can find help to get
online at their local library. Library staff will also be happy
to copy and certify your documentation required by the
Blue Badge application process.
5
news
equipment centre
Welwyn Hatfield MP Grant Shapps (centre) launching the new service with (from the left): David Martin, Director of Strategy and
Marketing, Papworth Trust; Annabelle Waterfield, Chief Executive of HAD; Cllr. Roger Trigg, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s
Executive Member for Housing and Community; Cllr. Howard Morgan, Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield and Liddy Lawrence, HAD Chair
Home Solutions Service launched
New partnership promotes greater independence
HAD is prime mover in a recently
launched local partnership.
The Home Solutions Service will
help older and disabled people maintain
their independence in the Welwyn and
Hatfield area.
Commissioned by Welwyn Hatfield
Borough Council, the partnership sees us
join forces with the Papworth Trust.
The service already has the blessing
of Welwyn Hatfield MP Grant Shapps who
was guest of honour at the official launch
at HAD’s Woodside Centre HQ late last
year.
“I’ve been aware for a number
of years of the great work HAD and
Papworth Trust do independently.
That’s why I’m really pleased the two
organisations have joined forces with help
from Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.
This partnership will be able to offer a
great deal to many disadvantaged local
people,” Grant Shapps told guests at the
launch.
The service aims to help people
stay in their own homes for longer and
administer Disabled Facilities Grants
(DFGs) for essential and complex works
such as level access showers, ramp
ways, internal property alterations and
extensions to property.
It will offer free practical advice and
6
support on finances, and will see HAD
providing occupational therapy services.
Together, the charities will ensure a fully
holistic service for disabled people across
the borough.
In many cases unsuitable homes can
result in occupants developing health
problems. This service will mean that
every £1 spent on DFGs will be worth
over £2 in care savings to the NHS –
saving taxpayers’ money.
“We’re really looking forward to
helping people in Welwyn and Hatfield,”
said David Herring, Head of Service at
Papworth Trust.
“Most people want to live
independently in their own home for as
long as possible. But sometimes health
changes can make this difficult. We’ve
been appointed by Welwyn Hatfield
Borough Council to help homeowners to
access the funding they need to stay safe
and comfortable in their own homes,”
David continued.
David’s comments were echoed
by HAD Chief Executive Annabelle
Waterfield: “Our OTs already provide a
comprehensive home assessment service
as well as a free specialist seating clinic
at our base in Welwyn Garden City and
also in Hemel Hempstead. By working
with Papworth Trust we hope to be able
to help even more older and disabled
people.”
Councillor Roger Trigg, Welwyn
Hatfield Borough Council’s Executive
Member for Housing and Community,
said: “We are delighted to be working
with Papworth Trust and HAD on
this project. This new partnership will
offer a valuable service to disabled and
vulnerable residents. They will be able to
get help and advice on equipment and
adaptations, advice about other housing
issues - such as disrepair, home security
and welfare benefits, plus signposting to
other services.”
Papworth Trust runs services to help
people stay in their own homes for longer
across Leicestershire, Buckinghamshire,
Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Essex and
Greater London.
Grant Shapps meets HAD Occupational
Therapist Jonathan Hill at the launch. With
them are Papworth Trust’s David Martin
(left) and David Herring
news
driving centre
Ghost Boy shows plenty of spirit
How Martin and
Mark teamed up
on the road
to recovery
Martin Pistorius contracted
meningitis when he was 12. As
a result he became disabled
and spent the next 14 years in
various care homes.
Although a full-time wheelchairuser and unable to speak, it was
eventually discovered that Martin,
now 37, could communicate. This
was the moment his life changed for
the better and led to him learning to
drive, with a little help from HAD’s
Driving Centre. This is his story…
I became ill at the age of 12 causing
me to become disabled. I then spent 14
years in care homes for the profoundly
intellectually and physically disabled as
it was believed I had the intelligence of
an infant. I was unable to communicate.
Then someone realised that I
might be able to understand. I went
for an augmentative and alternative
communication assessment where it
was discovered I had the potential to
communicate. From that point on my
life changed dramatically.
I now use a communication aid.
This, I think made learning to drive
interesting for my assessor Mark
Thackeray because I couldn’t “talk” and
drive. But we quickly worked out a way
to communicate while I was driving
through basic gestures and Mark asking
me yes/no questions. When we wanted
to discuss something I would pull over
and we would talk.
I initially tried to find an instructor
near my home in Harlow. However, none
of the instructors I contacted were
willing to teach me. I then contacted
David Wooder and asked him if HAD
could perhaps help. David said ‘yes’ and
after having my first assessment with
Darren Pratt, David mentioned that
Mark was one of HAD’s new instructors
and suggested he teach me.
This worked out to be mutually
beneficial because I got to learn to
drive and Mark gained valuable teaching
experience. Mark also passed his final
exam in December 2012.
The vast majority of my lessons
were with Mark Thackeray. Mark and I
got on really well. In general the lessons
went well, there were a few incidents
while I was learning, but that is normal we all make mistakes. I think one of my
more serious mistakes was when I got
confused and ended up on the wrong
side of the road. I also on a couple of
occasions looked at the wrong set of
traffic lights and wanted to go when it
was not my turn. But I would say overall
I didn’t make too many mistakes and
most of them were minor. Mark did
once comment that I took to driving
like a duck to water.
I started lessons in August 2012. In
general I had a lesson once a week. But
there were times where either because
I wasn’t able to or Mark wasn’t available,
several weeks would pass between
lessons. But in the weeks leading up to
my test I went for lessons twice a week.
I also had a few driving lessons
with David Wooder when Mark was not
available which also went well.
The actual test went really well
and I only had two driving faults. One
for signalling a fraction late, and one
for observation. The observation fault
happened early on in my test. The test
assessor had asked me to make a turn
and by the time I saw the junction it was
too late.
While this was not a problem it
rattled me and really got my nerves
going which contributed to my
observation fault shortly after. However,
after that I managed to settle my nerves
and compose myself.The test seemed to
be over really quickly. Initially I thought I
must have failed so I was ecstatic when
I was told I had passed, and not only
passed but passed really well!
My wife Joanna was so proud
and happy we went out to dinner to
celebrate. My Mum and Dad - Joan and
Rodney - were also very happy for me,
as were my brother David, sister Kim
and all my friends.
Now we own a Ford B-Max which
Joan and myself share. We specifically
chose the B-Max as it doesn’t have
a side pillar. This makes it easier for
me to put my wheelchair on the back
seat. I have Techmobility push pull hand
controls with an indicator switch. I also
use a steering ball. Needless to say the
B-Max has automatic transmission. I
have also had a couple of Pass Plus
advanced driving lessons with Mark.
These covered night and motorway
driving. We also spent some time
looking at complex roundabouts as well
as changing between high and low beam.
The time I spent in care homes is
covered in my book, ‘Ghost Boy’ readily
available at amazon.co.uk
7
news
herts sports awards
In full swing!
Cae’s all inclusive golf
initiative is a big hit
Cae with Dad
Tony at The
Shire, Barnet
HAD co-sponsored one of
the categories in the Herts
Sports Partnership’s Service
to Sports Awards 2013.
HAD
supported
the
Paul Pearce Award for the
Contribution
to
Disability
Sports at the event held at the
University of Hertfordshire,
Hatfield.
The pre-Christmas awards
ceremony, hosted by Sky Sports’
FI commentator David Croft,
was attended by more than
400 people who witnessed Cae
Menai-Davis take the top prize.
Cae’s Golf Trust is based at
the Seve Ballesteros-designed
8
Shire London Golf Club in
Barnet.
The Trust was formed in
August 2012 and is dedicated to
promoting and teaching golf to
people with physical and learning
disabilities in schools, day care
centres and hospitals. Aspiring
young and older players are also
taught by Cae and his team of
volunteers.
The Starting New At Golf
(SNAG) scheme uses colours,
numbers and oversize clubs and
balls to help teach the basics of
the game.
“Golf is a great game to play
for all age-groups and should
be all-inclusive. Sadly many golf
clubs don’t open their doors to
disabled people as much as they
should do,” Cae explained. “This
means I rarely get to teach in
them.”
Cae organised a Golf
Trust Unity Day at the Shire in
October 2012. It attracted over
200 people and saw three-ball
teams comprising one ablebodied player, one player with
physical disabilities and one
player with learning disabilities
join forces.
The
27-year-old
also
held the UK Disabled Open
at the Shire in July 2013. The
news
herts sports awards
Cae Menai-Davis, Daniel Gaze and Tom Horey
receive their awards. Also pictured are former
England blind soccer skipper David Clarke and
HAD Fundraising Chairman Paul Bishop
tournament, sponsored by British
Airways, was the first pan disability
event for men, women and juniors.
He’s also taking the Trust overseas in
February when he visits three special
needs schools in Grenada.
Closer to home Cae is also
involved in Special Olympics East
Herts - a scheme that promotes golf
at Amwell View School, Stanstead
Abbotts and Pinewood School, Ware.
Second prize went to Daniel
Gaze, of Falconer School, Bushey for
his dedicated work coaching football
to pupils with special needs. Daniel
started as a teaching assistant at the
SOCCER STARS: Daniel Gaze with
Arsenal and England midfielder Jack
Wilshere
school seven years ago and is now
about to qualify as a PE teacher. Before
joining the school Daniel coached
young offenders in north London and
Middlesex.
“We also linked up with Hertsmere
Borough Council five years ago to
work on the Double Club initiative
with Arsenal FC,” Daniel explained.
“This SEBD (Social, Emotional and
Behavioural Difficulties) programme
helps build pupils’ self-esteem through
football and literacy and encourages
them to play soccer at a higher level,”
Daniel continued.
Daniel has also loaned aspiring
soccer players from Falconer to
nearby Bushey Hall School and built
links with Queens School.
Tom Horey took the third prize
for his work at Hartham Leisure
Centre, Hertford.
Tom spent 12 weeks there on
work placement during the summer.
Prior to this he completed a gym
instructor’s course organised by the
disabled fitness training specialists
Instructability.
Tom, who broke his neck three
years ago while playing rugby for
Hertford said: “My task was to get
more disabled people into the gym
and the swimming pool.”
Tom, now 21, was nominated
by the gym’s fitness manager Ian
Ling. “Instructability’s Candice Bryan
contacted me to see if Tom could
spend three months with us,” Ian
explained. “Within a few days of
starting Tom was getting new people
in the gym.”
As part of an outreach
programme Tom also contacted The
Hub. He tapped into this organisation’s
comprehensive database of parents
and carers of disabled people of all
ages in Hertfordshire. As a result of
this he learnt that there was a keen
interest in swimming.
“Tom’s been brilliant,” Ian
continued. “As a result of all his hard
work we now have a dozen disabled
swimmers enjoying the facilities here.”
TOP SPORT: Tom Horey and Ian
Ling at Hartham Leisure Centre
9
news
fundraising
FANCY THAT: Pupils and staff dress up
for the run around Stanborough Lakes
Well fancy that!
Pupils at a local secondary
school got top marks when a
year of fundraising for HAD
began.
That was when 1,000
students at Stanborough School,
Welwyn Garden City, took part
in a non-uniform day. Many pupils,
and quite a few teachers, donned
fancy dress for a run round the
lakes at nearby Stanborough Park.
They then returned to school
for an afternoon of fun and games
to raise money for their chosen
charity.
For the students the highlight
of the day was a ‘dunk the teacher’
event, where Cathal Reid, Judy
DUNKED: Teachers got in a
mess at the non-uniform day
10
Winter and Alyson Venneear were
covered in baked beans, green goo
and sickly yellow slime by students
Kyron Howell, Oliver Ford and
Victoria Conway.
There was also a soccer
penalty shoot-out organised by
the sixth form as well as cake, tea
and coffee sales in the playground.
And there’s lots more fun
fundraising events to come
including a sixth form quiz, a
classical music event in May, a
Glastonbury-style music festival
on the school field in July and
many more cake sales.
Sharp-eyed students at the
school, are hoping local people
will focus on their latest charity
project.
A group of young
photography fans from the
school are keen to sell a calendar
featuring pictures they have shot
of local scenes.
The 2014 calendar is a
joint venture by the Handside
Schools’ Partnership, which sees
Stanborough School joining forces
with nearby Applecroft Primary
and Lakeside School.
The calendars were
produced with help from the
school’s head of art Liz Howard
and photographer Iain Green.
Local people may well be familiar
with many of the photographs
after they were featured in an exhibition at
the WGC Sainsbury’s store in November.
All profits from the calendars, priced
at £5 each, will go to HAD. They are
available from the school and also our
Woodside Centre HQ.
And the school’s recent Stanborough
Might Have Talent Show and another
non-uniform day raised £110 and £650
respectively, making the total raised so far
more than £6,000!
news
fundraising
Go West!
Local golfer Gill West certainly is a big hit
at fundraising.
The ladies’ captain at Welwyn Garden City Golf Club
recently presented a cheque for £2,250 to HAD Chief
Executive Annabelle Waterfield.
Over the year Gill organised a number of events
including an inaugural drive-in, lunchtime quiz and raffle,
blind auction and a bridge drive.
Prior to becoming captain, Gill read about our funding
cuts in the Welwyn Hatfield Times. “I wanted to support
a local charity and when I read about HAD, I chose them,”
Gill explained.
“There are also a number of members here aware of
all the good work the charity does,” Gill continued.
“We really appreciate all the hard work Gill and her
fellow lady members have put into helping us this year,”
Annabelle explained. “Since losing all our local government
funding, support like this is vital for us so we can continue
to help older and disabled people.”
Gill is pictured presenting the cheque to Annabelle
Waterfield, with HAD Chairman of Fundraising Paul Bishop
looking on.
Meanwhile Mike Meldrum and his four-ball Comfort In
Drink team were no doubt celebrating at the club bar after
winning the seventh annual HAD Golf Day last September.
Mike, together with Adam Cook, Joga Shoker and
Richard Hayden, amassed an impressive 100 points to
claim the HAD Trophy for the first time at the event at
Welwyn Garden City Golf Club. They finished two pints
(sorry points) better off than second placed Jonny Pomroy’s
Weapons of Grass Destruction with Adrian Axtell’s Anxious
Axtells finishing third.
It was certainly a day to remember for Richard Hayden
who claimed the longest drive and nearest the pin awards.
Best individual score in the men’s section came from Rob
Manning with 42 points, with Judith Moore’s 34 points the
best of the ladies.
The 38 golfers enjoyed good weather and an equally
good lunch before taking part in a fundraising auction and
raffle that meant the day raised more than £1500.
Fundraising Chairman Paul Bishop had this to say:
“Thanks to all those who played and supported HAD on
the day and thanks also to the club and catering/serving
staff who looked after us so well.”
Full team results: 1. Comfort In Drink; 2. Weapons
of Grass Destruction; 3. Anxious Axtells; 4. Unbalanced; 5.
Women Drivers; 6. We’ve HAD It; 7. Megaman; 8.Intangibles;
9. Mad Hatters.
Slice of luck for Hazel and Jack
HAD’s Christmas hamper has found a happy home. The first prize in
our annual festive raffle was won by regular customers Hazel and Jack
Wootten from Cheshunt.
And it couldn’t have come at a better time as Hazel explained: “I had
been very busy and didn’t have time to make a Christmas cake so when we
found out we’d won the hamper, including a lovely cake we were thrilled.
“It meant we could treat our friends and family to a slice or two,” Hazel
continued.
The couple were really lucky as they could not be contacted as they put
the wrong phone number on the ticket by mistake. “We only found out after
we phoned the Woodside Centre to make an appointment to see a bed and
were told there was a lovely hamper waiting for us,” Hazel said.
Other winners were: Jennifer Dallas, June Shadbolt, Inderjit Sandhu, Tony
Tunbridge, Jackie McCaig, Daphne Shaw, Sean Lawrance and Cathy Ryan.
Thanks to all who supported the raffle and also to Tesco Hatfield who
donated the first prize.
Caption: Tesco Hatfield’s Wendy Hughes
hands over the Christmas hamper to HAD
Chairman of Fundraising Paul Bishop,
helped by Elia and Harry
11
news
fundraising
They’re off! The race is on
Run, run Santa
Never mind about Rudolph, it was Santa
making the running at a local Christmas
charity event.
Hatfield Rotary Club’s inaugural 2km Santa run
around Stanborough Lakes attracted 130 entrants all
dressed in festive Santa suits and white beards.
They were raising funds HAD and the Isabel
Hospice.
Finesse Leisure’s Ellie Stickley made sure all the
Santas were warmed up with her vigorous pre-race
Zumba routine.
Also there, enjoying the spring-like sunny
weather, were SEAT Hatfield, St John Ambulance
and the local fire service who started the run.
Other sponsors include local low energy light bulb
specialists Megaman and John Lewis.
Hatfield Rotary Club President Roy
Satterthwaite said: “ We are very pleased with the
response to this first Santa Run. Everybody enjoyed
it and thanks to our supporters and sponsoring
companies, several thousand pounds was raised for
our two charities. We hope to build on this to have
an even bigger event next year.”
From left: Sam Manwaring with Henry (10) and Rose (7), from
Broxbourne and Welwyn’s Olivia Ward (7), Pierce (10) and Sandra
HAD staff Steve Nash, Matt Miller and David Wooder try out the
Santa suits for size
HAD’s summer cross country cycle ride on June
26 started at Gosling Sports Park and ended at
the OA sports ground in St Albans. The family
fundraiser featured a large team from HAD
supplier EMS Lifts (pictured).
All the cyclists were greeted by St Albans
Mayor Cllr Annie Brewster and enjoyed a wellearned drink and food in the clubhouse.
Big thanks to all who took part and also
to members of the Hatfield Cycle Forum who
undertook marshalling duties.
12
news
Sounds good...
fundraising
They’re back
Chicago style blues boys the Untouchables are
making a return appearance for HAD.
The four-piece band are coming back to
Wheathampstead Memorial Hall on Saturday May 31,
following a stunning fundraising show at the same venue
last spring.
Keith Parker and the band will once again be playing
a set heavily influenced by the Chess record label’s
1950’s back catalogue.
That means plenty of good-time Muddy Waters,
Howlin’ Wolf and Little Walter tunes. Don’t forget to
bring your dancing shoes!
A good time is guaranteed with tickets at £10.
There’s also a bar and a hot-dog supper.
For more details visit the HAD website or
phone 01707 324581.
Summer fun in Old Hatfield
Over 250 residents of Old Hatfield gathered
in the local Salisbury Square last summer for a
spectacular picnic and raised £500 for HAD.
The event was organised by the Old Hatfield
Residents’ Association, who also held a Christmas
carol fundraiser for us last year. The day included
family games and quizzes, a tug-of-war, origami
demonstrations, real tennis lessons, music and a dog
show judged by Edna and Roger Stephens.
Local restaurants and pubs offered sampling
menus and there was live music, including songs from
the local vicar, the Salisbury String Quartet (pictured),
a trio of talented children on violin, saxophone and
piano, plus Iranian music played on the harmonica!
Sensible shoes for Anna
Anna Borthwick is swapping
stilettos for sports shoes on May
24.
That’s when the new HAD
Trustee is raising money for us by
taking part in the gruelling ‘London 2
Brighton’ charity walk.
Anna is hoping to complete the
60-mile course in 20 hours!
You can sponsor Anna via
her Just Giving page: http://www.
justgiving.com/anna-borthwick or
text donations of £5 using the code
HAOD88 to 700070.
Soul men
Hatfield Soul Club
put on a night of
top class sounds
at Christmas for
a festive soul
fundraiser for HAD.
The gig took
place at Onslow St
Audrey’s School and
raised £150.
13
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emergency - 24 hours a day,
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Control Centre Operators
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www.welhat-cht.org.uk
Telephone: 01707 357 696
Working in Partnership with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
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