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Special Trikes for Special Twins |
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Written by Admin Administrator
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Monday, 09 November 2009 19:08 |
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Karen and Paul Johnson live in Ossett and are parents of three gorgeous little boys, Charlie, Jack and Joe. Charlie and Jack are 5 years old twins and Joe is 3 yrs old. The twins were born prematurely and were only allowed home from hospital after 12 weeks, many of which were spent in intensive care. Both boys were left with a number of development and health problems but with the great support of Mum and Dad, family and friends, they keep winning the battles to live as near a normal life as possible.
They were 4 years old before they were able to take their first independent steps. Charlie's walking has shown considerable progress but he gets tired quickly and needs supervision. Jack is trying extremely hard and is being encouraged to walk without his frame but it its very hard for him and he does need a wheelchair for longer distances or days out. Despite all their problems they have started their education at South Parade School in Ossett where they receive one to one support, but mobility continues to be a source of frustration for them. Recently Jack was given the chance to ride a specially designed trike belonging to a disabled friend and according to Mum it was fantastic, he could pedal it himself, gave him independence and allowed him to play with his younger brother. Jack was desperate for a trike of his own, and Karen and Paul could also see the potential benefits for Charlie. Unfortunately as with all special needs equipment they come with a very high price tag and it is especially expensive when buying for two, initially thought to be up to £2500.
Karen and Paul decided to press ahead with trying to raise the funds and made contact with the Rotary Club of Horbury and Ossett Phoenix which made an immediate commitment to help. Karen's dad having seen the impact of the bike on Jack contributed £600, and the sale of no longer needed toys and other items through Ebay raised some more. By the time Jack and Charlie had been assessed and appropriate tricycles had been specified and designed a balance of £700 was required to make the dreams of Jack and Charlie a reality. By using funds raised through events such as a recent brass band concert and the Horbury Show the Rotary Club was able to promise they would pay the balance and enable the order for the bikes to be placed.
On Tuesday of this week the two special twins from Ossett took delivery of two special trikes and on Thursday evening even pedalled themselves (with a little help) home from a parents evening at South Parade School. Rotary Club President Nick Hunter went to see the twins and their new trikes on Friday and was presented with Thank You cards prepared by the two boys. Nick said afterwards, "giving £700 to that family for those two little boys is one of the reasons why I joined and enjoy being involved with Rotary. Its why we raise funds in our local communities and try to help those in need". |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 04 February 2010 08:21 |
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Phoenix Donates |
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Written by Jim Donnan
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Tuesday, 18 August 2009 20:19 |
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Horbury and Ossett Phoenix Rotary Club President for 2008-09, Jim Donnan, recently presented a cheque for £1500 to Wakefield MS Society member Brian Kirkham. Said president Jim, "MS is the commonest neurological illness in this country affecting both sexes but predominantly women, and often starting at a young age. Symptomatology is varied, but mobility is usually severely compromised. My Rotary Club's aim is to plough the majority of our fund raising back into our local community and we were delighted in this case to provide an electric powered chair (pictured), for a resident of our catchment area.This will make independent standing from the sitting or reclining position possible without any other help".
Brian Kirkham, for the MS society, thanked the Phoenix Rotary Club for it's donation, and said the balance would be spent on the general support of sufferers, by purchasing equipment and respite care. |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 04 February 2010 08:19 |
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Horbury Show - Record Breaker |
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Written by Jonathan Siddall
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Sunday, 05 July 2009 06:54 |
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Yes - it was a brilliant day, warm, sunny and wonderful crowds all day long!
We think it is safe to say that it was a record breaking day for attendance and for money raised for charity.
Thank you all for your support. We certainly enjoyed the Show and we hope you did too. Any feed back and suggestions for the Show will be very welcome so may we encourage you to use the "" link here or on the Main Menu to do that. All your comments will be given to the Organising Committee and all our member's.
We look forward to reading your comments. We would particularly like to know if you have any local good causes you would like to suggest for our support. We would like to hear your suggestions for improving the Show. What did you like and what did you not like about the Show? It's your Show so please help us make it better! ALL COMMENTS ARE WELCOME - BE THEY COMPLEMENTARY OR OTHERWISE!
Thank you again for your attendance and support.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 04 February 2010 08:25 |
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Carr Lodge Park - Projects |
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Written by Bill Sutton
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Sunday, 17 May 2009 14:58 |
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For the past 13 years the RC of Horbury and Ossett Phoenix have utilised Carr Lodge Park, Horbury, as the venue for their annual Horbury Show fund raising event. Each year the club has put a good deal of effort into ensuring the park was clean and tidy both before and after the event and have been assisted by both the Wakefield Local Authority and the group Friends of Horbury Park. As a club we felt that we would like to put a little bit more back into the park and so in 2008 looked for a suitable project. Our immediate idea was to bring an abandoned walled garden back into community use and so we approached the Local authority who were reluctant to let us loose on such a big project, partly because they wanted to check our ability to deliver and also because of ongoing concerns about the sale of a grade 2 listed mansion within the park to which the walled garden is connected. Whilst disappointed we agreed to take on a smaller project which was to replace existing but exhausted rose beds with 3 new herbaceous beds, and replant another one with bedding plants.
From our first approach of the Local Authority in early November 2008 it took until mid March to get the go ahead. By the end of March all three new herbaceous beds had been created and two rose beds had been cleared (one for annual planting - the other was turfed with grass removed from the herbaceous bed. Manure was provided from a local farm with the help of Mike Smith of the Friends of Carr Lodge Park. All the heavy was digging was carried out by Phoenix Club members. We were ready for planting in mid April. The Local Authority provided a planting plan but due to budgetary delays were unable to place an order for the plants until late April with a predicted delivery towards the end of May - the Local Authority are paying two thirds of the cost of the herbaceous plants and we are paying for all other planting from our charity funds (some of the proceeds of Horbury Show). The bedding plants, mainly marigolds, are being grown by club members.
The planting out of the beds is to be carried out by Rotarians with the support and involvement of a local disability group, local girl guides, children from Horbury Primary School, and members of the Friends of Carr Lodge Park group.
The delays from the Local Authority have been quite frustrating and could easily put people off getting involved with a partnership approach to a project like this, but we remain committed to the task, and are planning the planting of bulbs and aubretia at the foot of a Ha Ha style wall at the front of the Carr Lodge Mansion in the Autumn when we will also clear the bedding plants out and renew with winter flowering bedding and remove the remaining rose beds after their final season of flowering.
As a club we intend to pursue the potential refurbishment and bringing back into use of the walled garden and will be looking to the Local authority for a more open agenda as to the future of the walled garden and a positive approach to progressing the matter.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 04 February 2010 08:26 |
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Horbury Stroke Prevention Checks |
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Written by Bill Sutton
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Friday, 24 April 2009 07:19 |
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 12 members of the Horbury and Ossett Phoenix Rotary Club led by club Members Dr David Maynard, Dr Jim Donnan, Dr John Lynagh and Dentist Dai Gifford carried out instant free blood pressure checks for shoppers in Horbury Town Centre on Saturday 18th April, as their contribution to the Stroke Associations, 'Stroke Prevention Week'.
High blood pressure is one of the main causes of strokes. Strokes are known as the silent killer and are one of the major causes of sudden premature death in the UK. Strokes are preventable by a combination of proper health monitoring, healthy lifestyles and in some cases by treatment with prescription medicines.
80 people were tested in Horbury on Saturday and 25% were referred to their GPs for further monitoring because of raised levels of blood pressure. Dr Jim Donnan said, "An initial high reading does not necessarily indicate a serious risk or problem and may be caused by particular circumstances at the time of the test - often subsequent readings return to normal levels, however past experience through this campaign has shown that 10% of those people referred back to their GPs have required on going preventive monitoring and care."
The Rotary Club expressed their thanks to Willings' Horbury Dental Care for allowing the Rotary Caravan to be parked on their car park during the testing sessions. Horbury Dental Care Website
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Last Updated on Thursday, 04 February 2010 08:31 |
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Carr Lodge Park Gardening Project |
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Written by Jonathan Siddall
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Friday, 13 March 2009 16:26 |
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Horbury's Carr Lodge Park is the latest location to benefit from a Phoenix Rotary Community Service project.
Work started on 9th March to tidy and enhance the area to the front of mansion house in Carr Lodge Park.
Work is to include: Removal of some old, non-productive, rose bushes the removal of a lot of overgown ivy and plan, mark out and digging of flower bed/s which will, this year, for quick effect, be planted with annuals.
We will keep you up to date via photos posted below - keep coming back to see progress.
Here's a few hardy perennials at work! (click on them for a better view)
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Last Updated on Thursday, 04 February 2010 08:32 |
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