Charity Partnership
The British Polio Fellowship
Supporting and empowering people living with the effects of Polio and post-polio syndrome
Play Badminton Club is pleased to announce a charity partnership with The British Polio Fellowship, with the aim of supporting and empowering people living with the effects of Polio and post-polio syndrome.
Supporting people affected by polio is a cause very close to our hearts. Our father, or Papa as we affectionally call him, contracted Polio in Kenya is late 1940s.
Soon after he developed life-long disabilities, causing paralysis. Growing up in Kenya with this disability from a very young age was not easy, yet Papa has been an inspiration to all of us.
Papa has never let his disability stop him from achieving amazing things. His story reminds us that we can succeed in whatever we want if we are willing to put in the hard work, have a focused mindset and positive attitude.
So we are very proud to have The British Polio Fellowship as our charity partners.
Ashish & Bhavni
What is Polio?
Poliomyelitis, commonly shortened to polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus.
Polio occurs naturally only in humans, by invading the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. It is highly infectious, and is spread from person to person either through fecal-oral transmission (e.g. poor hygiene, or by ingestion of food or water contaminated by human feces), or via the oral-oral route.
Often patients are left with life-long disabilities.
Polio cases can progress to paralytic disease, in which the muscles become weak, floppy and poorly controlled, and, finally, completely paralyzed; this condition is known as acute flaccid paralysis.
The weakness most often involves the legs, but may less commonly involve the muscles of the head, neck, and diaphragm.
New research has shown that years after recovery, post-polio syndrome may occur, with a slow development of muscle weakness similar to that which the person had during the initial infection.
Polio in London
In June 2022, polio virus type 2 (VDPV2) was detected in London sewage samples, leading to immediate action by the UK Government. All children aged one to nine and living in Greater London will be offered a polio vaccine after the virus was detected in sewage.
There have been no confirmed cases of paralysis due to polio caught in the UK since 1984. However, the latest news is clearly worrying.
The best way to prevent polio is through vaccinations. The polio vaccine is part of the NHS routine childhood vaccination schedule.
Following good hygiene routines, like washing your hands with soap and water or using hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day also helps you avoid catching and spreading viruses. This is similar to what many are used to following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The British Polio Fellowship ("BPF") is a charitable organisation dedicated to supporting and empowering people in the UK living with the late effects of polio and post-polio syndrome (PPS). With 2,000 members, BPF provides information, welfare and support to those affected, to enable them to live full, independent and integrated lives and campaigns to raise awareness of PPS.
Empower Badminton
#beinspired #getactive
The British Polio Fellowship, runs an annual indoors games event, which encourages and supports polio patients to take part in games which otherwise they would have limited access to.
Play Badminton Club is in the process of setting up an inclusive badminton session.
This will provide opportunities for those with any disability (not just polio) and those without to come and play together, to support people to move more and encourage people to lead an active and healthy lifestyle.
To support this work we are working with The British Polio Fellowship to raise funds for disability sports and mobility equipment.
We hosted a special Club Winter Social on Friday 16th December 2022, as part of our fundraising efforts.
Club Winter Social raised £1,355 for The British Polio Fellowship
On Friday 16th December 2022, we held our annual club social. This time it was also a charity fundraiser for The British Polio Fellowship. To read more about the Club Winter social, click here.
Through our charity partnership with The British Polio Fellowship, we raised £1,355 in funds for sports disability and mobility equipment. This will help those affected by polio and post-polio syndrome live an independent and active live.
Thank you,
Play Badminton Club