OFF THE CUFF
BY SWASIE TURNER, MBE
I would like to take the opportunity in this, my first column in Wirral Life, to say how much I appreciate the honour of being your new resident columnist in such a prestigious magazine.
I look forward to furnishing our 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?
This month’ s article is not intended to be one of... I’ ve been, I’ ve seen, I’ ve done etc... but one to update readers as to my usual activities and itinerary.
Since being confined to living life on the seat of my pants in a wheelchair I have thankfully managed to adapt to a way of life that has enabled me to seek and achieve many alternative goals. I am proud to say that I have now pushed my standard, 47lb NHS wheelchair with its little front castors, 38,391 miles worldwide( I had a cycle mileometer fitted from the start). My extremely high global mileage has enabled me to have reached the magic sum of £ 1m pounds in money and much needed medical equipment etc to date for my needy causes. I am extremely proud of the many physically demanding endeavours I have managed to successfully perform to achieve this. During my numerous fundraising travels I have been privileged to have met and befriended many people all over the world. More importantly, I am also immensely proud of the fact that I have( hopefully) helped the disabled fraternity in one way or another, not only financially, but also I would like to think I have possibly been an incentive to some to come to terms with being in a similar scenario to that of myself.
Many times I am being asked to give talks of such endeavours at a seminar, forum or various functions, meetings and gatherings at numerous venues. I am honoured to oblige and always more than willing to share my experiences and look forward to giving my illustrated verbal renditions with the utmost enthusiasm.
I have always ensured that my many times eccentric or‘ unorthodox’ methods to enhance the coffers of my various charities have been and will continue to be, photographed each and every time during whatever my efforts entail. As a result, my illustrated addresses include many extremely breath taking pictures of my events such as abseiling( in my chair) 200 feet down the fortress walls of Valetta, Malta or 135ft down the outside of the Leasowe lighthouse.
Other activities have included pushing my chair to the top of Green Mountain on Ascension Island and pushing across the unforgiving terrain of the Falkland Islands. Without such pictures, I doubt if my vitriolic ramblings would be believed?
When I am asked to give such talks, I never seek any form of remuneration whatsoever, all I ask is a donation to whichever charity I am giving the talk for. My fully illustrated verbal renditions are usually of an hour’ s duration after which I invite questions from my audience.
It is sad that the social model of disability identifies various barriers, negative attitudes and sometimes exclusion by society, either purposefully or inadvertently. This of course illustrates that such( ignorant and offensive, by some) interpretation of the physical and mental capabilities of those who are disabled in one way or another sadly does exist. My efforts to continually bring about‘ Disability Awareness’ amongst all, will never cease to be my paramount objective. Due to my privileged success as( what some have afforded me the description of being) a prolific author, my books are always included as raffle prizes when giving my talks to increase the contents of my charity‘ bucket’ on each occasion.
Shortly I will be holding a dual book launch which is to be held at the prestigious Northop Hall Hotel( formally Chequers) at Ewloe, Flintshire in the forthcoming months( date to be arranged and announced) when my two latest, fully illustrated biographical titles,‘ When One Door Closes’ and A‘ Shore’ Way of Life, both published by D & M Heritage Ltd, will be launched during the event’ s social evening.
On the night, proceeds from the former will go to the RMA( Royal Marines Assn) and the latter to the R. N. L. I( Royal National Lifeboat Institution) at Hoylake, two extremely deserving causes. I am also shortly to introduce my second Talking Book,‘ A Bootneck on Castors’ which I intend to help generate much needed funds for the Blind Veterans Association( formally St Dunstans).
In the meantime, I rest my steaming quill back into its pot until our next issue.
20 wirrallife. com