Press: Dame Hannah

The Dame Hannah Rogers Trust is inviting runners in Devon to take up its challenge and shed the Christmas pounds whilst raising money for a good cause.

The Ivybridge based charity has 60 Gold Bond places available for the 2008 Plymouth Half Marathon on May 25^th and is encouraging as many people as possible to take up the offer of a place and start training for the big event.

The Dame Hannah Rogers Trust which provides education and care for profoundly disabled young people has also been selected by Plymouth Half Marathon organiser, Babcock Marine, as its nominated charity for this year’s event.

Community fundraising manager Paul Courtney said, “It can be hard to find the motivation to stick to a New Year resolution keep fit regime, but taking up a Gold Bond place in the Half Marathon gives you a real goal to aim for.

“It is a great event that our pupils, staff and supporters look forward to and the effort that people put into the race on our behalf is fantastic. Last year we raised over £11,000 and we are hoping that even more people will come forward in 2008 to get fit, have fun and raise important funds for Dame Hannahs.”

The 13 mile summer event which attracts over 5,000 runners and over 15,000 spectators is rated amongst the top 15 road races in the UK, attracting both serious and amateur runners.

Abi Maxwell, Dame Hannahs respite manager, is taking part in the race for the first time this year. She said, “I’ve never run in anything like this before in my life - in fact running around the block leaves me out of puff! But I was really encouraged by all the other members of staff and volunteers who regularly take part and I have already collected so much sponsorship money. I’m starting my training now and if I can do it – anyone can!”

Paul concluded, “Funds raised by the Half Marathon will go towards bedroom conversions that cost in the region of £30,000 each. The improvements will provide our young people with increased privacy and independence during their time at Dame Hannahs.”

To find out more about running for Dame Hannahs in the 2008 Half Marathon call Paul Courtney on 01752 898186 or email paul@dhrt.co.uk

Paul Courtney and Abi Maxwell limber up as they begin training for this year’s half marathon

Based in Ivybridge, Devon, the Dame Hannah Rogers Trust has been transforming the lives of disadvantaged, yet inspirational young people for over two hundred years. Today the Trust specialises in delivering education and care for profoundly disabled children and young people. The multi-disciplinary team at Dame Hannahs delivers this specialist care through:

Ø a residential school for students and younger children aged 5 -16

Ø a residential Further Education department where older teenagers explore increasing amounts of independence

Ø a Specialist 19+ Unit created to help our young people learn life-skills and to stop them being placed in an inappropriate environment such as an old people’s nursing home on reaching the age of 19

Ø a state of the art respite unit providing vitally needed respite care for young people and their families both from the immediate locality and nationally

All of the students and young people using our services have profound physical disabilities and communication needs. Many also have life-threatening medical needs.

According to Ofsted, Dame Hannahs is now officially one of the leading providers of education and care for profoundly physically disabled young people in the UK. Unique among UK special schools, Dame Hannahs is the only school for students with physical disabilities that has been awarded ‘Outstanding’ three times in succession and is now on the Ofsted Roll of Honour.