I was humbled and moved by the team at the Rainbow Centre, on Palmerston Drive, a charity wth Fareham roots working non-stop to help sufferers of cerebral palsy, MS, Parkinson's and stroke and head injuries. Headed up by Lara Bull, the team of trained Practitioners in Conductive Education supports both adults and children to live life to the full, by training undamaged parts of the brain to take control of motor functions previously managed by the areas of the brain which no longer work.
The Rainbow Centre is the only facility in the Solent Region providing an early intervention programme for children with cerebral palsy, helping them to sit up, stand, walk and play and do the millions of things that other children take for granted. A growing part of their work is with adults who have Parkinson's, MS, or recovering from a stroke or head injury. Here they can improve their mobility. Some of the stories Lara told me about were nothing short of miracles, with people who had hitherto been declared hopeless cases, regaining the ability to walk and lead as normal as life as possible.
Funded entirely by gifts and donations, the Rainbow Centre was set up 25years ago by Helen Somerset How MBE in Sarisbury Green, before moving to Quay Street and ulitmately receiving Bradbury Building at Cams Alders as a gift from Fareham Borough Council where they are currently based.
Here I am, on my visit, with Centre Director, Lara Bull and Cllr Susan Bayford, a former Chairman of Trustees.
The Centre is always looking for corporate donors, sponsors, partners and volunteers and holds several fundraising events, so please do get in touch if you can assist: www.rainbowcentre.org.