On 25 and 26 May this year, I will be attempting the Three Peaks Challenge which will involve climbing the three highest mountain peaks in England, Wales and Scotland within 24 hours. Despite having a fear of heights, I am taking on this challenge to raise money to support people of all ages with a learning disability and their families who face challenges as huge as this every day of their lives. 

As the Manager for Southampton Mencap for over 17 years and through personal family experience I have seen first-hand how people with a learning disability and their families are marginalised and face many barriers and obstacles on a daily basis. Having a child with a learning disability can have a massive impact on the whole family.

I believe that the families of people with a learning disability are an inspiration to the communities in which they live, saving this country millions, and deserve the best support they can get.  Across the country family members continue to commit their lives in supporting their relatives with little or no help or recognition.

Did you know that there are 298,000 children (188,000 boys and 110,000 girls) age 0-17; 900,000 adults (526,000 men and 374,000 women) who are diagnosed with a learning disability living in England? Only 21% of those aged over 18 are known to learning disability services and are eligible for support.  Out of the 136,450 adults with a learning disability in some form of accommodation, 31% (41,825) of these live permanently with family or friends. [Data taken from Improving Health and Lives: Learning Disability Observatory People with Learning Disabilities in England 2010]

Southampton Mencap provides a range of services to help families and their relatives.  Amongst our many services, our leisure activities give opportunities for inclusion and socialisation so that people of all ages with a learning disability are able to meet up with each other, make friends and have fun and their families benefit from the short breaks from their caring responsibilities.  The organisation also provides a wide range of other support services, e.g. family carer meetings, advice on education and planning for the future and more recently the development of a range of meaningful day activities.

Please help me to support them and achieve my target of raising £1,000.  This will go to Southampton Mencap so the organisation can continue to provide vital services to children, young people and adults with a learning disability and the families who provide their care.

You can also text your donation by sending SoMe88 £AMOUNT to 70070. Thank you for your support.