Welcome to the daily Leeds United comment feature, today we again promote a worthy cause.
As you read various articles on football, particularly Leeds United, sometimes it’s hard not to get cynical and depressed. However occasionally that turns around and you see the other side. For example I recently read that David Batty spends his time on charity activities including been involved in advertising campaigns for Cancer Research.
Another one of our ex players involved in charity fundraising is Danny Mills, something he was invloved in whilst still a professional footballer. He is presently involved in preparing to race the Brighton Marathon in a wheelchair on the 18th April. The Just Giving Link for Danny Mills’ efforts can be found here http://www.justgiving.com/dannymillswheelchairmarathon and is in the Clarkeonenil blogroll, when I checked earlier it had a total of £751 pledeged so far. I think this is a bit low given the causes and effort involved (and if every one who reads here donated a £1 that would be £1000 a day!). Therefore I decided to give over today’s Daily Contribution to advertise the cause and sponsor link again.
Below are the words of Danny Mills himself on why he is doing it:
Playing for England, Manchester City & Leeds United was a challenge, but nothing compared to what I’m about to take on.
On Sunday 18th April next year I will attempt to complete the inaugural Brighton Marathon – in a WHEELCHAIR.
In addition to the arduous and rigorous training needed to complete the 26.2 miles, it is a mission to raise awareness of the day-to-day challenges wheelchair users can face – from inaccessible transport and buildings to negative attitudes. I plan to spend a week living as a wheelchair user – highlighting the barriers faced by disabled people throughout the country.
I hope that I’ll help change attitudes to people who use wheelchairs on a daily basis and I’ll be raising funds for two disability charities –
the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (ASBAH), to which I am Patron and Vice President, and the National Association of Disabled Supporters (NADS) as I believe all should be able to get to football matches as easily and often as they choose.
‘It won’t be easy, but I want to show how everyday things we take for granted can be a lot more difficult when you are a wheelchair user, like going to the shops, the movies or down the pub’.
I recently launched ASBAH’s Fit for Success initiative, to encourage people with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus to become more active and to support aspiring Paralympians. ‘I want to show just how difficult and hard the training is for our Paralympian athletes, and the extra dedication they need to get to the very top.’
I have already received messages of support and offers of help and advice from wheelchair users throughout the country including Dame Tanni Grey Thompson and David Weir who are keen to follow my progress during the arduous training schedule and to find out how I cope with a week using a wheelchair to get around.
Wish me luck, going to need it,
Danny Mills”
Please sponsor Danny Mills and support his efforts and causes. Thank You.
Editor Michael.
