Looking beyond the summer and its warmer temperatures, The British Polio Fellowship has just launched its Winter Warmth Appeal. The appeal has been running for around 35 years and raises money to support polio survivors in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland keep their homes warm during the colder winter months.
Thousands of people contracted polio during the devastating epidemics of 1940s and 1950s and in the years before the virus was largely eradicated in 1984. Since then, they have been living with the serious after effects of the virus.
Today, those who survived polio are having to cope with the disabling effects of this slow, degenerate disease, with new or worsening polio-related symptoms (known as Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS)). PPS is a complex condition, but the most commonly reported symptoms include temperature intolerance (a sensitivity to hot and cold), painful and weakening muscles and/or joints, extreme exhaustion, difficulty swallowing and problems sleeping.
“As a polio survivor I understand the importance of keeping muscles and joints warm. It’s a real challenge but I know if I don’t, they will be extremely painful” commented Mick Harper, a Trustee for the British Polio Fellowship.
“I keep my muscles and joints warm by using electric heating pads, fans and/or heaters, and all too often having to turn on the central heating. Being cold really impacts my life in a negative way and that’s why this year I’m leading on the Winter Warmth Appeal for the Fellowship.
“Heat is important because it helps strengthen our muscles and reduce the debilitating discomfort and pain. If we did nothing, the cold would cause our muscles to fail, and we’d experience more falls and possible fractures or broken bones.”
On 1 July, electricity and gas prices fell by 7% in England, Wales and Scotland due to a new energy price cap. A typical annual dual-fuel bill paid by direct debit will now cost around £1,500 a year. But even though this means energy bills are at their lowest in two years, they remain about £400 higher than three years ago.
“We want to help the polio community with their heating bills and that is why the British Polio Fellowship is calling on charity fundraisers and supporters to make a donation to this year’s Winter Warmth Appeal” explained Kripen Dhrona, Chief Executive Officer.
“The money raised, enables us to provide grants to those in need. We helped over 80 polio survivors last year with a £200 heating allowance for those not eligible for a government grant.
“Every year we receive more applications for help and that’s why we want to raise as much money as possible to support those polio survivors struggling to manage their polio symptoms and warm their homes.”
Donations for the Winter Warmth Appeal can be made on the British Polio Fellowship website https://www.britishpolio.org.uk/winter-warmth-appeal or by calling the Fellowship on 0800 043 1935.
Polio is caused by a virus that can result in paralysis and spreads easily from person to person, usually through contact with the poo of an infected person. Today, thankfully it is very rare in the UK because of a successful childhood vaccination programme introduced in the 1960s.
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