SWASIE TURNER MBE
Wirral resident and former policeman Swasie Turner is well-known throughout Merseyside for his many and varied fund-raising exploits. Swasie will be joining Wirral Life as a regular feature writer in the next issue. Here he shares with us his story and his passion to raise awareness of disability.
Since the traumatic loss of my police career due to a gratuitous act of violence whilst out patrolling the streets of Merseyside, my injuries were such that it was deemed necessary to amputate my right leg high above the knee.
My ongoing surgery also included three separate knee replacements. Prostheses proved unsuccessful and as a consequence I was forced to adopt a new role as a‘ wheelchair pilot’!
I found this to be extremely difficult after an obsessive lifetime in the gym pumping iron, martial arts and boxing. Like all able bodied people I took life for granted until my most rude awakening to my new life pushing a standard NHS issue, 47lb wheelchair with its small front castors. As well as high kerbs, grass and muddy terrain to negotiate, I even found negotiating thick carpets to be an ordeal.
However, worse was to come when my beloved wife succumbed to the dreaded disease, cancer. Totally devastated by the death of my wife and lifelong sweetheart
I became totally obsessed with raising funds to help research into the disease and the hopeful, eventual eradication of such a ruthless and indiscriminate killer.
From the start, I intended each of my( eccentric) fundraising efforts would be a first. As a consequence I have now pushed my ordinary chair 38,391 miles worldwide. As well as‘ my’ cancer charity, I have also adopted other charities among my physically demanding endeavours. As well as raising funds by pushing my‘ tank’ all over the world for various worthy causes, I also give illustrated addresses to numerous organisations, clubs, women’ s guilds, Rotary, Round Table, Lions, Masonic and being blessed with having written a number of books, I have included these to also assist my charitable causes.
I am also totally devoted to raising‘ Disability Awareness’ to all and I am extremely keen to assist the bettering of facilities for the disabled fraternity.
I look forward to writing for Wirral Life and furnishing readers with what is going on and who is doing what so that I will( hopefully) generate interest in my future, sometimes possibly controversial scriptures?
Lastly, and most importantly, I would like to thank profusely, all those who support my ongoing efforts by their continual generous benevolence. Without your benevolence and kind assistance I could not maintain the success I am blessed with constantly achieving.
20 wirrallife. com