CELEBRATION DAY

0

 

 

 

STEEL BONES HOLDS CELEBRATION DAY WITH OVERWHELMING SUCCESS AND INCREDIBLE SUPPORT FROM LOCAL COMMUNITY

On 4th August STEEL BONES HELD THEIR second celebration day, generously hosted by the British American committee and was attended by 150 amputees and their families. With amputee information stalls, inclusive sports for all and inspirational talks given including from Mark Pattenden, GB PARALYMPIC ARCHER and Wendy Smith, PARALYMPIC BASKETBALL PLAYer. It was a roaring success which included a VIP tour of the air base and some extraordinary displays.  The children were given goody bags, had face painting, kids tattoos and bouncy castle fun. This day did everything it needed to do and so much more.  It enabled the amputee community to join forces, cement bonds, forge relationships to inspire and support one another.

WE are incredibly grateful to everyone who supported that event including Mil Ken Travel, Limelight Design & Print, ComputerScene, Newmarket Town Councillors, Newmarket Rotary Club and all of our amazing voluntary team who made it happen.

Steel Bones is a new charity which came about, after the realization of a big need for on going support for amputees and their families. It started with a chance meeting between Emma Joy-Staines, her children and Gabrielle Furze, her children down Isleham rec one day. Jorja, Gabrielle’s oldest child is an amputee from birth. Emma said her children had never met another amputee before and that her husband Leigh Joy-Staines was an amputee too.  We got chatting and both agreed there is no one who had made us feel that we were not alone. We all agreed that there must be other amputee families who felt as lonely and lost as we all did.

Emma and her Husband came up with the idea of the charity after discussing how Jorja had said it would be nice to see more amputees having fun with their families.  Leigh lost his leg 8 years ago due to an operation going horribly wrong. Jorja was born without her lower leg as she was born with amniotic band syndrome. Both have since gone on to have numerous operations, and both families have found it very difficult to find support groups or other friends in such situations. It is quite a lonesome Disability and there is a lack of understanding in the general public and government as to what amputation means for an individual and a family. Hence we have formed STEEL BONES with the help of a fantastic group of friends most of whom now form part of our Trustees.

STEEL BONES is a charity which works to connect the amputee community to give latest news on stump health, promote healthy and active lifestyle, signpost useful services, therapists, personal trainers, sports clubs and provide flexible careers opportunities. Our focus is on the entire family.

We are very passionate about supporting families and so one of our most important goals is to release a series of children’s books featuring amputees in normal, everyday situations.  We shall be working with children who are amputees themselves to create these.  Jorja Furze is our Young Person’s Ambassador who is helping us finalise these plans with her school supporting and  fundraising too.  Jorja was awarded the title of this year’s child of achievement at the Ely Hero Awards. She is very humble for this fantastic achievement saying “I really don’t understand why I received this, I’m just me.” But not only has she helped with the set up of Steel Bones, she has also started a group at school for children with anxieties as well as just trying to help others with what ever they need. Regardless of the fact she has been recovering from 2 major operations in the last 8 months.

Our another major goal we have been receiving huge demand for is STEEL BONES packs. We want to ensure every vascular and orthopaedic ward has an Informative, proactive and inspiring pack which every new amputee is given:  written by amputees for amputees.

This is the very first early days of this charity, we expect to come together as a global force.  We have a great Facebook group which is where everything began.  This remains our main social hub for meet ups and connecting with each other.

You might also like