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Thursday, March 20, 2008

Businessmen urged to go caving

A muscular dystrophy sufferer from Weston is urging businessmen to take on the challenge of caving to help raise money for a good cause.

I'm a Company Director... Get Me Out of Here is being organised by members of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and will involve people exploring the caves of Burrington Coombe.

Steve Ledbrook, of Willow Road, Weston, suffers from the condition that causes muscles to weaken and waste away.

The 34-year-old supports the campaign's quest for better services for sufferers in the South West.

His 30-year-old brother, James, also suffers from Becker's Muscular Dystrophy and both have been waiting to see a specialist for more than two years.

Steve said: "I have lived in Weston for six years. I moved here because there was an adult clinic in Bristol for people with the condition.

"However, this has since shut down and I haven't been able to see a specialist for a long time. I would have to travel to Oxford to get the treatment I need.

"I really do think people in the South West are getting a bad deal in terms of the services they have available to them."

The campaign's regional fund-raising manager, Lynne Hodgson, said: "We have met with the South West Strategic Health Authority to discuss the situation and they have agreed to work with us to improve the services."

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign members have organised the caving event for April 25 and they are hoping company directors and businessmen will take part and gather up some sponsorship money, which will be used to help fund the group's activities.

These include investing in research, resources and providing information.

To sign up or to find out more details about the campaign contact Lynne Hodgson on 01752 228128 or email l.hodgson@muscular-dystrophy.org

Source: EDP24