Sponsored Paddle

It's strange what comes into your head at three a.m when you are supervising your son's art session in the kitchen after giving him breakfast at 2.15. (Murder? Sedatives? Ed.) I tend to think, "What else can happen to us?" Well I know the answer now. Dan can get diabetes, and then get a kidney infection. So that's the bad news from Brampton this week.

But there is some good new too. In case you are new to our site, our son Dan has a rare genetic disorder called Angelman Syndrome (AS), caused by an error on chromosome 15 and resulting in severe learning difficulties, sleep disorder, epilepsy, challenging behaviour and lack of speech.

In the UK we have found the Angelman Syndrome Support, Education and Research Trust (ASSERT) http://www.angelmanuk.org/ to be really helpful. Every two years they organise a national conference at Loughborough University where we meet other families and attend lectures, exhibitions and workshops. This month we will attend a regional get-together in Hertfordshire.

My fellow rangers and the volunteers at Paxton Pits are well aware of Dan's condition and the effect on me. I often have to come to work late or leave early and I'm always tired and so it has an effect on them too; more work.

Instead of complaining, they have decided to help by raising money to promote awareness about Angelman Syndrome and to give support to parents, carers and teachers. I'm extremely proud and grateful.

Two of our rangers, Matt Johnson and Matt Hall volunteered to paddle my Canadian canoe from Bedford to Ely, and the rest of the staff, visitors and volunteers put up the sponsorship. The target is £600; roughly £10 a mile. They completed the trip this week, in 4 days, so it's time to pay up! The money will go to ASSERT.

I saw the lads on Friday, looking a bit stiff and grizzly (so no change there.) They have survived. They have conquered the thundering cataracts of the Great Ouse and reached safety at last. I don't think they can stand up straight yet though. Sitting down also seems to be a problem.
You can still contribute by going to our on line sponsorship form, www.justgiving.co.uk/mattandmatt

If you want to know more, contact us at paxpits@paxton-pits.org.uk
Thanks to Matt and Matt and all of you who sponsored them.