The Big Give Christmas Challenge, 5-9th December
One in six people live with the daily pain and suffering of arthritis, which affects people of all ages and is the biggest cause of pain and disability in the UK. Arthritis rarely kills but it takes people’s lives away, preventing them from working and even doing simple things like going up and down stairs and making a cup of coffee. The chances are, it will either affect you, or someone you know.
For many living with arthritis, their only treatment is taking painkillers, which is why Arthritis Research UK is highlighting the urgent need to find a breakthrough.
Now you can help make double the difference. For a few days only, between 5-9th December, The Big Give Christmas Challenge is offering you a chance to double the value of your gift to help those living with arthritis. Donations made to Arthritis Research UK via the Big Give Christmas Challenge at the website below will be matched by the Challenge sponsor, pound for pound.
All the money raised through the Challenge will go towards the research taking place at the Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre in the University of Nottingham. The scientists are researching how pain is transmitted between the joints and the brain, in order to develop better pain relief for the millions of people suffering from arthritic conditions.
Dean Collier from Nottingham was 38 years old when he was diagnosed with osteoarthritis seven years ago. At the time he was working as a tram conductor and started suffering from pain in his right knee. As the pain from standing for long periods of time was unbearable, Dean was moved to driving the trams and later to an engineering role. However, the pain got so bad that Dean had to give up work. “I was at rock bottom at that point, it felt as though suffering from the pain had robbed me of my life”, he says.
“Initiatives such as the Big Give Christmas Challenge will not only raise vital funds for the Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre in Nottingham, but also highlights the need for better pain management for millions of other people like me.”
The Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre Director, Professor David Walsh comments; “The Pain Centre has produced some really important discoveries in its first year. We’ve found out more about how nerves in the joint and cells in the spinal cord are activated as arthritis pain develops. The next four years will see us building on these strong foundations to deliver the results needed to transform understanding and treatment of arthritic pain.”
The charity is hoping to raise money towards the £500,000 it costs each year to fund the Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre in Nottingham.
Campaigns & Issues
Woodland Court staff face secure future thanks to Brunelcare
Residents and staff at a retirement village in Downend have finally reached the end of two years of uncertainty, following the acquisition of Woodland Court by Brunelcare.
Previous owners of the 57 apartment village, Care Village Group, went into administration in June 2011, leaving the residents and staff with an uncertain future.
The top priority for the Bristol based charity has been to retain all 27 members of staff to ensure that the support services are maintained, whilst minimising any disruption to the residents.
News
Stamping their feet
THOUSANDS OF Post Office staff have taken part in strikes across the country following a dispute about closures, jobs and pay.
A staggering 88 per cent of Communication Workers Union members voted in favour of strike action, following a refusal from the Post Office to negotiate terms.
The 4,000 workers, from 373 offices, took part in the strikes in opposition to plans to close 76 offices.
They hope to protect jobs and services and secure a fair pay rise for Post Office staff - who have not had a wage increase since April 2011.
Competitions & Fun
Win a Doro PhoneEasy 515 handset!
We’ve teamed up with Doro to give four very lucky Mature Times readers the chance to win a Doro PhoneEasy 515 mobile phone.
The Doro PhoneEasy 515 has been designed to provide an easy-to-use mobile for people who might find mainstream handsets difficult or confusing to use. This beautifully stylish candybar phone features an easy-to-use camera enabling you to capture those spontaneous photos quickly and easily before sharing them with others.
The Doro PhoneEasy 515 has several user-friendly functions including a direct SMS key and a charging cradle to make charging hassle free. It also has a large keypad, enlarged text for easy dialing and messaging and a loud, clear sound.
Reader Offers
Win a prize at home or away in this month's prize draw with Silver Travel Advisor!
Enter now and you could win a prize at home or away! How about a 7 night break for 2, with flights included, in beautiful Slovenia? Or a trip to London’s glitzy theatreland, staying in a 4* hotel? Both fabulous treats which must be won!
Silver Travel Advisor is a friendly website packed with advice, tips, information and honest reviews written by and for silver travellers (aged over 50). A team of advisors are on hand to answer queries (for free), and you can share your own experiences too.
Health & Wellbeing
Loneliness is a ‘ticking time bomb’
One in three people over the age of 50 struggles with loneliness – fuelled partly by a rise in later life divorces, according to an official study. Figures show almost seven million members of the baby-boomer generation and above admit to feeling lonely.
Research published as part of David Cameron’s plan to measure the nation’s ‘happiness’ said almost half of people over 80 feel lonely - many “much of the time”.
Campaigns groups say the study, by the Office for National Statistics, suggests the generation approaching retirement will be a “loneliness time bomb”.
Property & Finance
15 per cent of population claim financial worries are affecting their health
16 million people find finances the most stressful aspect of their lives
Leisure and Lifestyle
Singing you heart out
Music sensation Billy Ocean takes time out talk to Laura Heads about the release of his latest album and how making music has changed dramatically during his 40 year career.
The star has sold over 30 million records in his lifetime and has collected a pile of Gold and Platinum awards across the world. Billy’s unique reggae infused voice and musical style, representing his Trinidadian roots, are recognisable anywhere and it is that which has earned him his well-deserved number ones.
And the well-loved singer-song writer said that the way music is made has changed a lot since he first began in the 1970s. He said: “Music is now controlled by technology. New artists allow technology to control what they are doing.
Travel
New guide to travel insurance launched
THIS IS A handy to use and easy to read guide packed with tips aimed at helping older travellers when considering the purchase of travel insurance.
The guide came about as a result of the numerous enquiries we received here at the Mature Times’ offices regarding travel insurance for older people. MT Editor Andrew Young says ‘We receive many, many e-mails, letters and telephone calls from our readers regarding this subject. We know that as you get older travel insurance becomes more expensive, but there are ways that you can try to help offset some of these increases – and this guide can help you do that.’
Obviously as Editor you will have had many letters of thank-you's and well-done's, so please count this as one more from a convert to your excellent paper.