Archive
Appeal to help little Alana – A FUNDRAISING event to buy an adapted car seat
A FUNDRAISING event to buy an adapted car seat and pushchair for a sick youngster will be held this weekend (Sunday, December 13).
Alana Beth Dixon, who celebrates her first birthday tomorrow (Thursday, December 10), has a string of medical problems, which means her development has been delayed and she must be fed through a syringe.
Her mother, Claire Dixon, of Ushaw Moor, near Durham City, had a normal pregnancy but at birth it was noticed Alana Beth had a protruding tongue.
The new-born became severely jaundiced and medics finally diagnosed a hole in her heart.
Source: Appeal to help little Alana
Broompark Play area Officialy Opened (From Durham Times)
A CHILDREN’S play area in north Durham has been officially opened following a lengthy campaign by residents.
Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council recently completed the refurbishment of the £45,000 Broompark Play Area, on Broom Lane, near Durham City.
Parish council clerk Susan Carmedy said: “The same play site came up as a community concern and request for refurbishment in 2011 when several young people and residents sent a petition to the local MP Roberta Blackman-Woods.
“This was then looked at by Durham County Council’s outdoor sport and leisure department alongside the area action partnership, however further community consultation led to the play site next to Deerness Gymnastics Academy being refurbished.
“A lack of toddler play was again brought to the attention of the parish councillors and the county councillors for the area during the elections in 2013 and as the county council would not take this forward the parish council decided to take the lead.”
The proposed project went on to win £5,000 at the subsequent Village Vote event in November 2013.
Further funding was found from Durham County Councillors David Bell, Jean Chaplow and Anne Bonner, Mid Durham Area Action partnership and from Section 106 money secured from Gleeson Homes as part of their Ushaw Moor housing development at the former infant school site.
The play area is owned by Durham County Council, but the parish council has secured a 25 year lease.
It will be jointly managed by both authorities with the county cutting the grass and the parish maintaining the equipment.
Children from the St Joseph’s and Silver Trees Primary Schools were consulted on the choice of the final design.
Equipment caters for toddlers up to 11 years old and there are also four pieces of adult outdoor fitness equipment on the site.
Andy Coulthard, coordinator for Mid-Durham Area Action Partnership, said: “This project is real example what people power can achieve.
“Local children and their families have campaigned over many years for new play facilities in this part of the village.
“The refurbishment of the play area has been jointly funded and includes contributions from local county councillors and the AAP.
“We’re delighted to be able to support this project, in partnership with the local parish council.
“The new play area, which features new play and fitness equipment, is already proving popular with families.”
via Play area opened following public campaign (From Durham Times).
Community club celebrates 18th anniversary – 2-4 Club (From The Northern Echo)
A PARTY has been held to mark the 18th anniversary of a community club in north Durham.
A special tea and entertainment was laid on at St Joseph’s Catholic Club in Ushaw Moor this afternoon. (Tuesday, May 12)
It was held to mark the anniversary of the Tuesday 2-4 Club, which was launched in 1997.
At its height the club had around 90 regular attendees and still has around 60 members.
The event gave old friends the chance to have a reunion and catch up.
Lilian Sowerby, a member of the team, which organises the club, said: “It went absolutely brilliantly. We had a good turnout and it was absolutely marvellous.
“The lady who cut the cake, Monica Smith, is our oldest member and is 93 years old.”
Mrs Sowerby said new members are always welcome at the group, which runs every Tuesday from 2pm to 4pm, and costs £1 a week to cover tea, cakes and biscuits.
She added: “People get friendship out of the group and it gives them a social life. We play darts and dominoes and do a quiz and play bingo.
“We welcome new members of all denominations and people come from the surrounding areas to attend.”
via Community club celebrates 18th anniversary (From The Northern Echo).
ill girl holds charity ball to help other children – Sunderland Echo
Child of Courage winner Grace Kemp, of Bay Court, Ushaw Moor, Durham, who is hosting a ball for a children’s charity at the Stadium of Light.
COME rain or shine, Grace Kemp shall go to the ball.
Despite battling her own health problems, the 10-year-old has poured her spare time into organising a fund-raising ball for other poorly children.
SAFC fan Grace, from County Durham, has chosen the Stadium of Light as the venue for her event on Saturday to raise money for the The Indee Rose Trust, which helps children diagnosed with a brain or spinal tumour.
Grace herself has been plagued by tumours.
At just 18 months, her family were devastated to learn that she had a condition called neurofibrematosis, and is susceptible to growing tumours on nerve endings on any part of her body.
Grace was dealt a further blow at the age of two when it was discovered a piece of bone was missing from her left arm, which meant she had to undergo a nine-hour operation to transplant bone from her leg to replace it.
As if that wasn’t enough, a routine eye test at the age of four revealed she had a tumour on both optic nerves.
The youngster embarked on an intense course of chemotherapy, but her vision has been left impaired. Her courage in the face of adversity has earned her a Child of Courage Award in the Echo’s Pride of Wearside Awards in 2011.
Now Grace wants to say thank you to the charity that has helped her.
Grace’s mum Judith, 37, said: “Over the years, The Indee Rose Trust has done so much to help Grace. It even paid for One Direction tickets for her at the Stadium of Light, which she absolutely loved ever second of.
“They help so many other children too.
“We’ve done other fund-raising for the charity in the past, such as a psychic night, a charity night and a leg wax, but this is the first time we have done anything this big. The Stadium of Light has been fantastic.”
Speaking about Grace’s health, the mum-of-two said: “Grace has a benign brain tumour, which is stable and doesn’t require treatment. Mainly, it’s her vision and balance which is affected from past treatment, but she doesn’t let it stop her. She still does judo at school.”
via Ill girl holds charity ball to help other children – Sunderland Echo.
NEW – Vitality-Pilates , The Hut, Ushaw Moor
Pilates classes and services in the west Durham area. Including group classes, private classes, postural analysis and one-to-one sessions.
Spaces filling up quickly for new Ushaw Moor… – Vitality-Pilates.
Party to celebrate Ammia’s first birthday (From The Northern Echo)
A PARTY has been held to celebrate the first birthday the parents of a baby girl were warned she might not reach.
Little Ammia Storey was born last March suffering from a rare abdominal wall defect, meaning her vital organs are outside her stomach.
At three months, her parents, Melanie Belcher and Johnathan Storey, from Ushaw Moor, County Durham, were told she may not survive.
But she has defied the medics and today (Sunday, March 23) has celebrated with family and friends at Ushaw Moor Catholic Club.
via Party to celebrate Ammia’s first birthday (From The Northern Echo).
DEERNESS WALK: Crook and Weardale Ramblers
DEERNESS WALK: Crook and Weardale Ramblers has organised a six-and-a-half mile easy/moderate grade walk on Sunday, March 9, in the Deerness Valley. The group will leave Crook Market Place at 10am or walkers can meet the leader at Esh Winning in small car park at the bottom of lane next to Lloyds Bank at 10.15 am. For details call Gwen Raine on 01388-664093.
Deerness Tumblers Aim for National Selection
Four Deerness tumblers are heading to national trials this weekend (March 1 & 2) aiming to gain selection for the Great Britain national squad for the Tumbling European Championships.
At the Lilleshall National Sports centre they will compete against the very best tumblers in the country for a coveted place on the national squad to compete in the European Championships from April 7 to 13, 2014 in Portugal.
Two gymnasts, Rachel Davies (15) from Langley Park and Shanice Davidson (13) from Washington, will try and gain a place on the Junior team. While Steven Gilmore (18) from Jarrow and Georgia Clayton (16) from Spennymoor will try and gain a place on the senior team.
“We wish them all the best of luck in these trials,” said Glen Wharton, head of tumbling, Deerness Gymnastics Academy. “Although they have all represented Great Britain before there is a lot of competition across the country in what is a growing discipline of gymnastics. They will have to perform at their very best using the many hours of hard work they have put in at the club alongside their coaches to achieve their goal.”
Rachel Davies won a silver medal in the British Championships and a silver medal in the World Championships competing for Great Britain in 2013. In 2010 she was World Champion in the 11/12 girls tumbling age group and in 2012 won a team gold medal in the European Championships.
Shanice Davidson won a bronze medal in the British Championships and a silver medal in the World Championships competing for Great Britain, and was recently received the prestigious accolade of BBC North East Junior Acheivement Award for 2013.
Georgia Clayton is the current British Champion and won a gold medal at the Danish World Cup competing for Great Britain in 2013.
Steven Gilmore is the current British Champion and competed in the 17/18 age group in the World Championships for Great Britain in 2013.
Volunteer Dog Walkers Needed Urgently for Ushaw Moor – Cinnamon Trust
The Cinnamon Trust Ushaw Moor.
The Cinnamon Trust is the national charity whose wonderful volunteers help people over retirement age and those in the latter stages of a terminal illness by offering all kinds of pet care.
We urgently need dog walking volunteers for a resident of Ushaw Moor who is unable to walk their lovely 5 year old cross breed.
What happens if illness, injury or just the fact that we all get older eventually affects our ability to look after our four legged companions? A large number of elderly or ill pet owners become very worried about their ability to care for their pets, feeling that their only option is to re home them, this is where our national network of dedicated volunteers step in to offer support enabling them to stay together.
We’ll walk the dog for a housebound owner, we’ll foster pets when owners need hospital care, we’ll fetch the cat food, even clean out the bird cage or litter trays.
We are always seeking new volunteers so even if you can only spare an hour a week we would love to hear from you,
If anyone can help please call during office hours 01736 758707 or via email sallycollins@cinnamon.org.uk
Please also check out our website for more details www.cinnamon.org.uk
TWO tumblers from Deerness Gymnastics Academy pick up silver medals
TWO tumblers from Deerness Gymnastics Academy are ready to enjoy Christmas after picking up silver medals in the Tumbling World Championships in Bulgaria.
Shanice Davidson, from Washington, secured a silver in the 13-14 girls age group and Rachel Davies, from Langley Park, was runner-up in the 15-16 category.
Deerness’s head of tumbling, Glen Wharton, who was among Great Britain’s coaches in Sofia, said: “These were fantastic displays by our tumblers.
“I would have been really pleased to just make the finals, however to bring back two World Championship silver medals is a great achievement for both Shanice and Rachel but also their coaches, families and also the club.
“Tumbling is a relatively new discipline for Deerness Gymnastics Academy, but we have been able to achieve a lot in short amount of time and its a real achievement for the club to continue to represent and win medals for Great Britain at international level.
“We have started new tumbling recreational classes here at Deerness Gymnastics Academy and we hope this will inspire our younger and newer club members as we continue to develop the club for both the local community as well as national and international gymnastics.”
Anyone wishing to join or find out more about the Ushaw Moor-based club, call 0191 373 9419 or go online to deernessgymnastics.org.uk
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