The British Polio Fellowship has announced a new charity partnership with Play Badminton Club, a friendly and social badminton club in Harrow and Northwood.
Play Badminton Club, a Badminton England affiliated club, was formed in 2014, when a group of friends playing badminton decided to build a club that would provide anyone in the Harrow or Northwood area, an opportunity to play badminton regardless of their ability. The new charity partnership will mean the Club can raise funds to help the British Polio Fellowship reach more polio survivors and offer disability sports initiatives and mobility equipment.
The British Polio Fellowship is dedicated to improving the lives of those living with the effects of polio and the neurological condition, Post-Polio Syndrome. Its members have access to welfare and support services, grants for holidays, heating and aids, expert advice on polio symptoms and treatment, regular news and local groups for networking and social activities.
To kick off the charity partnership a fundraising event is taking place on Friday 16 December. The ticketed event will be a fun-filled evening with wonderful food, live music and dancing. This social event starts at 6.30pm and will go on until late at the Blue Room Sports Venue, Headstone Lane in Harrow. Tickets for the event are available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/play-badminton-club-winter-social-tickets-440440618747
Funds raised at the Winter Social, by Play Badminton Club, will be donated to the British Polio Fellowship as it builds and develops its active and strength building programme for polio survivors, that will ease their joint and muscle pain.
Kripen Dhrona, British Polio Fellowship Chief Executive, commented:
“Polio is a devastating disease and people who contracted the virus have been left with disabilities and symptoms that are getting worse and impacting on their quality of life, such as muscle weakness, joint pain, extreme fatigue, breathing problems and sleep apnoea. Partnering with Play Badminton Club will ensure polio survivors across the UK get the help they need. It’s thanks to the support of partners like Play Badminton Club that we’re able to continue to be there for our members.”
Ashish Patani, Founder of the Play Badminton Club, says:
“My father contracted polio in Kenya, in the late 1940s. As a result, he developed life-long disabilities but has always had an amazingly positive can-do approach to life. That’s what attracted us to the British Polio Fellowship. We want to help it support other polio survivors to remain independent and keep active.”
Bhavni Shah, Club Ambassador for Play Badminton Club, says:
“We are really pleased to partner with British Polio Fellowship. We hope it helps to raise awareness about polio and encourage those with a disability to participate in sports like badminton.”
Anyone who has had polio can join the British Polio Fellowship. Membership is FREE (or a voluntary contribution can be paid) by calling 0800 043 1935, emailing info@britishpolio.org.uk or visiting www.britishpolio.org.uk
To learn more about Play Badminton Club visit www.playbadminton.club