WIREDGOV

Daily life and sometimes even taking a breath is a struggle for 71-year-old Coral Williams because of living with the late effects of Polio and Post Polio Syndrome (PPS). 

And her daughter Angela Locke is so desperate to make a difference to her mum’s life and others that she is using money from the Big Lottery Fund to raise awareness of the syndrome in Wales where awareness levels are the lowest in the UK. 

The Welsh Region of the British Polio Fellowship is one of 58 community projects across Wales receiving a share of £180,835 under the latest round of the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All small-grants programme. (Full project descriptions can be found here). 

Coral, of Cwmbran in Torfaen, had polio when she was just three which left her needing to wear a calliper because of the way it weakened her left leg. And then decades later she started showing symptoms of PPS, including breathing difficulties and falling over backwards, which have steadily worsened over the years. She now needs to wear a calliper again for walking but mainly gets around using a scooter or wheelchair. 

But despite constant pain and struggles she is determined to help raise awareness. After volunteering for the Welsh Region of the British Polio Fellowship she handed the reins to Angela, also from Cwmbran, whose used £4,882 from the Big Lottery Fund to hold an information day at the Senedd in Cardiff. 

Of around 120,000 people in the UK who had polio, it is estimated that 12,000 are in Wales – and many more who never knew they had it. Research by YouGov reveals a significant awareness problem. PPS and the Late Effects of Polio are barely even recognised by Welsh people as medical conditions. 

Figures show that only five per cent of people in Wales have ever heard of PPS and only six per cent had heard of the late effects of Polio, compared to 85 per cent who are aware of Parkinson’s and 84 per cent who have heard of Motor Neurone Disease.

Polio is a viral infection that used to be common in the UK with most people fighting it off with even realising they were infected. Others would have paralysis, muscle weakness and shrinking of muscles. Post-polio syndrome is where some of these symptoms return or get worse many years or decades after the original infection. Other signs include extreme tiredness, muscle and joint pain and sleep apnoea. 

“Symptoms returned for me in 1984 with a heavy bout of bronchitis,” said Coral. “It started to affect my left leg again meaning I was dragging it and then slowly my mobility got worse and worse. It was such a shock when it returned because I thought I had it and was over it. It can get me down and it’s a burden at times bit you’ve really just got to try and get on with it. 

“Over the years the fellowship has helped raise awareness and also identify people who have PPS who might not have known it so that they can then get information and support.” 

Angela, 46, who is now chair of the Wales’ region, said she first got involved with the group after taking her mum to the British Polio Games 15 years ago. Once a year sufferers from across the UK play games like darts, dominos and Scrabble. 

“You see how people have physically deteriorated over 12 months,” she said. “I wanted to get involved because my mum inspired me too. I just want more people to be aware but finding people who know about it and people who can talk about it is the hardest battle.” 

So fresh from the success of the National Lottery funded event at the Senedd, Angela is determined to keep on spreading the word. 

“The more people talk about it the more help people can get,” she added. 

For more information visit http://www.britishpolio.org.uk/  

Other funding from the latest round of Awards for All grants includes £4,992 for Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board to create a children’s playroom at Ynys Saff for children and young people attending the sexual assault referral centre and organize an end of year event for service users. 

Manager Ruth Nash said: “Evidence shows that for young people who have experienced sexual abuse having support and help is key to re establishing control of their lives.

“The project aims to extend the support services currently offered by providing psycho educational programmes teaching young people how to keep themselves safe and improve their emotional and mental wellbeing in order that they can reach full potential in their lives despite the difficult experiences they have been through.” 

SaddleAid in Anglesey receives £5,000 to buy a donkey-drawn cart and trailer for people, including those with a disability while Quiet Earth in Pembrokeshire will spend £4,030 to pilot a series of inter themed environmental workshops for up to 150 people who are at risk of social isolation. 

Gareth Williams, Awards for All Programme Manager for the Big Lottery Fund in Wales, said: “Awards for All is having a positive impact throughout Wales. 

“Money is helping to establish groups, societies and clubs, promoting learning, increasing volunteering opportunities and helping to build stronger communities.” 

Available in English and Welsh, application forms are available to download from www.awardsforall.org.uk or by phone on 0300 123 0735.

Further Information:

Ben Payne - Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 01686 611 720 
Public Enquiries Line: 0300 123 0735 Textphone: 0845 6021 659

Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available at: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk  
Follow Big Lottery Fund Wales on Twitter: www.twitter.com/biglotterywales  
Find Big Lottery Fund Wales on Facebook: www.facebook.com/biglotteryfundwales  

• The Big Lottery Fund supports the aspirations of people who want to make life better for their communities across the UK. We are responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by the National Lottery and invest over £650 million a year in projects big and small in health, education, environment and charitable purposes.
• Since June 2004 we have awarded over £6.5 billion to projects that make a difference to people and communities in need, from early years intervention to commemorative travel funding for World War Two veterans.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £34 billion has been raised and more than 450,000 grants awarded.