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Story
People often think that changing lives requires a big effort, but small changes can have a huge impact.
This January, kickstart your year and start it as you mean to go on by challenging yourself to build a new, healthy daily habit.
Whether that's getting your steps in, taking up mindfulness exercises, curbing your caffeine intake, learning an instrument or a language, or going on a digital detox - no challenge is too big or too small.
We're asking you to start your journey to a happy, healthier life whilst fundraising to help us support disabled people so that they can reach their full potential too.
This is so important because disabled people are often excluded from opportunities, more likely to experience barriers to social inclusion, employment, and access to the things a lot of us take for granted.
Dave's story
Dave lives at Gloucestershire House, Leonard Cheshire's care home in Cheltenham for disabled adults. Dave was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) in his late twenties. CMT affects the nervous system and is progressive, leading to a loss of muscle tissue and a loss of sensation. In 2019, when he was in his fifties, Dave felt that he needed more support to be able to live as independently as possible and moved to Gloucestershire House.
Since the move, Dave has been keen to improve his physical and mental health by getting as much exercise as possible. Gloucestershire House is fortunate to have a new therapy suite and, until the pandemic struck, Dave was able to exercise there four to five times a week.
Dave says:
Knowing that I had the freedom and the opportunity to exercise gave me the feeling that I had my life back after it was taken away from me. I felt I was making good progress with weight loss and I felt so much better about myself too. So when Gloucestershire House went into lockdown during the pandemic and we lost access to communal parts of the care home, I felt that all my motivation to exercise would be lost too.
Supported by the physiotherapy team and the care staff, Dave set about organising a series of long-distance virtual cycling challenges for fellow residents of the care home, using the two therapy bikes there including covering the distance from Land's End to John O'Groats! The equipment was routinely sanitized and transported between the care home's lodges so that residents could stay safe while participating in the challenges. The team spirit was such a boost to everyone's morale during the darkest days of the pandemic.
Dave says:
It's so important to have access to equipment like these therapy bikes. They've been a saving grace for so many of us in terms of improving strength, overall health and sense of wellbeing. Building regular habits makes such a difference so I'd encourage everyone to please come up with a new healthy habit for Leonard Cheshire's 21 Day Challenge! We can do it together!
So what does a donation mean, not only for Dave but also for the other people cared for and supported by Leonard Cheshire? Here are just some of the things the money you raise could go toward:
£45 could buy a large key keyboard, making it easier for someone with a visual impairment or dexterity issues to type and become more employable by developing their digital skills.
£160 could pay for specialist voice recognition software, enabling someone to increase their independence by using online services with just their voice.
£250 could buy an assistive device such as a wheelchair or hearing aid for a disabled child in Africa or Asia so that they can go to school and gain an education.