Latest news with #EhlersDanlos
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Youngest councillor Alexander Walker, 25, elected as Rhyl mayor
A local authority's youngest town councillor has been elected as mayor at just Walker, who has autism, has been a town councillor in Rhyl, Denbighshire, since 2022 and described it as "surreal" to be elected, as it is something which he never thought he would end up Walker took on the role of deputy mayor last year, but says he first got connected with the council around the age of 13, after receiving a Radio 1 Team Hero Award for dedicating his life to care for his disabled mum, now hopes to raise awareness of the mental health charities which helped his mum and be an advocate for the younger generation in the community. "It's not just the realm of the older person," Mr Walker said. "Growing up I didn't feel there were many opportunities to learn about the town council. "I've got the role of being a voice for younger people, getting younger people involved in their communities." Both Mr Walker and his mum have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a condition which causes joint hypermobility, frequent dislocations, and muscle living with EDS, Mr Walker has spent his life caring for both his mum and his grandparents, all while volunteering within the community. Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Mr Walker said he had relationships with members of the council but first got involved in the council during the Covid-19 lockdown, by joining their virtual meetings. Now, he believes individuals can have the most impact in local government, addressing the issues which matter the most to Walker said he is looking to bring awareness to issues close to his heart too, adding "growing up I've had my own challenges with my mental health, my mum has had challenges with her mental health". Looking at the year ahead, he aims to remove the stigma surrounding mental health problems and raise funds to help organisations such as the charity Mind provide the support people need.
ABC News
18-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Victorian research finds surfing can reduce youth mental health symptoms
Montana Tagg says that, two years ago, her health problems and her school's lack of support for them got so bad she dropped out of high school. The 16-year-old lives in constant pain with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which causes joint hyper-mobility and frequent dislocations. "I could never do any handwritten work. I had to do all my work on a laptop and a mainstream school just couldn't understand that that needed to happen," she said. The teenager wakes up about three mornings a week with a partial dislocation of her shoulder or hip, and has had to deal with painful jaw dislocations. "It opened up a lot of potential for me to be bullied, which did happen," she said. That all snowballed into mental health problems. "There have been really hard times, growing up and not fitting a normal body image, and also having to go to a lot of doctors' appointments," she said. Montana's dad Brendan was concerned about his eldest daughter's future. "Since COVID it had been getting more and more difficult. She was missing three to four days of school a week," he said. But things really changed when Montana started surf therapy at her new school, Hester Hornbrook Academy, in Melbourne's west. She started looking forward to her beach sessions every Friday at Ocean Grove, on Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula. "My condition causes me chronic pain but things like surfing really, really help it," she said. It's a unique social, physical and psychological recipe that Ocean Mind offers to those aged between eight and 18. They can sign up to attend six consecutive weekends of surfing with a mentor and then follow it up with surf club sessions on an ad hoc basis. Acting CEO Ben Wilkinson said it was an evidence-based program that had created life-changing experiences. "Many of the young people we work with might be non-verbal or low on communication," he said. "One young person's first word he'd said in years was the name of the mentor who'd been supporting him. It just blew the family away." He said the charity was riding a wave of popularity. In its 2023/24 season it engaged more than 419 young people and had more than 140 active volunteers. Ocean Mind was founded by youth worker Rachael Parker in Torquay in 2016 and began operating in the Geelong region where demand continued to be strong. It expanded to the Mornington Peninsula a year ago. "It's been an amazing reception over there and we'd love to grow that more. We'd certainly be looking at other parts of Australia after that," Mr Wilkinson said. Scientists say surfing can build self-esteem through mastering a skill, creating social connections, and promoting physical activity. That increases dopamine and adrenaline secretions, and decreases levels of the stress hormone cortisol. In conjunction with Ocean Mind, researchers at Deakin University studied 36 young people aged between eight and 18 who had reported symptoms of anxiety, depression or ADHD. They found a reduction in depression, anxiety and ADHD symptoms after six weekly sessions. "They need to be present. There's that act of mindfulness and really paying attention to the ocean and the waves, and in doing that, what they report is this respite from the daily stresses in their lives," said Deakin associate professor Lisa Olive. But her team found those benefits did not continue six weeks after the program finished when the young people had stopped regular surfing. She said more research needed to be done with larger numbers of participants to find out if other demographics would benefit from surf therapy. At Montana's school, there was no doubt about the efficacy of surf therapy. Her youth worker at Hester Hornbrook Academy, Theresa Corson, said she had noticed a difference. "Surf therapy has been such an amazing opportunity for Montana. I've seen her confidence really build and I think it's been really effective for her," Ms Corson said. School leaders say the inclusion of surf therapy into the curriculum has paid dividends. "It's increased feelings of belonging and connection which are so important," said Amy Farrell, the head of Hester Hornbrook Academy campus in Werribee. Apart from owning a surfboard of her own one day, Montana is circumspect about her surfing goals. "If the waves are good or if the waves are bad, I still have to surf them and just try my best and see what I can do," she said. "You have to be focused on that one thing. If you're not focused on it then you're not going to do the best. "It's physical and mental, so you have to give 100 per cent." Others are expecting the tide of interest in surf therapy to continue. "I think surf therapy has an amazing future," said Ocean Mind mentor Jack Palakas. "It's such an opportunity for young people to connect outside of that therapeutic space, and kids connect through play."
Glasgow Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Stoke City fan's 300-mile charity walk from Celtic Park
Paul Venables, a Stoke City fan, will be taking in landmarks that were key to his footballing idol Lou Macari during his journey. The 50-year-old, who goes by the name The Bearded Wanderer, has already completed various fundraising treks, including walking 258 miles from Kidsgrove to Looe and 150 miles from Stoke to Watford. Paul will walk 300-miles starting from Glasgow (Image: Supplied) Read more: Celtic legend gives glowing endorsement of Hoops transfer target His latest challenge will be the furthest yet, walking 300 miles from Glasgow's Celtic Park all the way to Stoke to raise money for two different charities. Paul said: "I plan to start off on June 29 in Glasgow at Celtic where Lou started his playing career, then head south to Manchester and Old Trafford for July 11 where Lou played for Manchester United and also has his famous chippy, ending the stomp at Macari Centre on July 13, just a stone's throw away from where the Victoria Ground was, where Lou managed Stoke City. "I'm raising money for The Macari Foundation; a homeless charity whose patron is Lou Macari, who has strong ties to all three clubs. "All three walks also see me raise money for The Davies Foundation." Paul at Watford's Vicarage Road (Image: Supplied) Though the treks in themselves are a test of endurance, they are even more difficult for Paul, who suffers from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a condition which makes walking painful. He said: "Just to complicate matters, I'm a zebra, in that I suffer from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. "As my variant isn't too bad (Classical Ehlers Danlos), it's mainly unsightly lumps on my elbows and knees, stretchy skin, and quite relaxed joints. "From a walking perspective, this can give me stiffness and inflammation in my ankles and Achilles so even without these stomps, some days walking full stop can be painful." As well as donating to the charities using his online Just Giving page, Paul is also asking for support throughout his latest stomp. Read more: Celtic to 'spend big' on striker as star's chances to be limited further Paul taking a break during one of his charity walks (Image: Supplied) He said: "Please help me raise much-needed funds for these community-based charities, or could you help me along the way, somewhere between Glasgow and Stoke. "I'm still looking to have one of my stopovers paid for and money for a kitty alongside the Just Giving page. "Or perhaps, if you're feeling up for it, then feel free to join me for a little while – it's only around 300 miles in a couple of weeks."
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Direct social care payments 'helped me to become an artist'
An award-winning autistic artist said she was able to follow her dreams after being given the freedom to manage her own social care Hirst, who also has learning disabilities, is currently an artist in residence at the Everyday Art School at the Whitworth Gallery in withdrawing from college due to health problems, the 24-year-old from Old Trafford decided to use her funding to sign up for a placement for artists with learning disabilities."It just feels really amazing to be able to do something that I love and enjoy and I'm passionate about all the time," she said. Ms Hirst, who also has hypermobile Ehlers Danlos syndrome, was able to hone her skills during her time at Venture Arts in placement was funded through direct payments provided by Trafford direct payments is an alternative to accepting care organised by the local is designed to give service users more autonomy about the services they need and receive. 'Confidence and purpose' "Everybody is different," said Jenny Gibson, who works forTrafford Council."Everybody has different needs and wants and we just want people to be able to get the care that they want in the way that they want it to suit their own lifestyle."Ms Hirst's work has been exhibited at Manchester's Jewish Museum, the People's History Museum and Portico has also co-curated an art exhibition in was named Young Creative of the Year at the 2024 Manchester Culture mother Emma Hirst said it was amazing to see what her daughter had achieved."It's allowed her to follow her dreams," she said."She is an artist working at a studio and that's what's so amazing. "It gives her such confidence and purpose." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
18-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Support dog boosting Bath lecturer's confidence and independence
The owner of a support dog has said he makes her feel more secure when walking out and Herbert, a senior law lecturer at Bath Spa University, has Ehlers Danlos syndrome, which affects her mobility and means the slightest fall could be Herbert, 64, and Rafa enrolled on a disability assistance programme with the Support Dogs charity in March 2023, and have now graduated as a successful partnership."I can hold on to Rafa and he stops me from falling," she said. Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a group of rare inherited conditions that affect connective Herbert was diagnosed 15 years ago and told she would have to spend the rest of her life using two walking came as a shock for Ms Herbert, who had unknowingly grown up with the genetic condition but been labelled "a clumsy kid", despite excelling at athletics due to being "stretchy and strong".She always had a dog while growing up, and discovered support dogs when reading about disability assistance dogs. Campus 'rock star' Ms Herbert looked into getting a puppy and spent a lot of time and effort in ensuring her new pet had the right temperament and would not be a big dog that would pull her is when she found Rafa, a goldendoodle and labradoodle cross, which became a life-changer."Now when I'm walking with him, it's as if my brain feels as though there's an extra body part on the ground, and it's reopened up my sensory and motor pathways," Ms Herbert said. Rafa also helps his owner at home too, fetching her phone, the TV remote and helping take her shoes and socks off for he is well-known at the university where Ms Herbert works. "He's a bit of a rock star on campus," she way Rafa helps is that people now see his blue support dog jacket and realise she is "part of a vulnerable population"."People are much kinder and it eases my anxiety," Ms Herbert said."It's really been such a positive experience for my self-esteem and my mental health as I can continue to be independent," said Ms Herbert.
