Chairman's spina bifida appeal to be launched on Wednesday

Councillor Mrs Joanne Gadd is chairing a champagne reception at the Cooden Beach Hotel, at 6pm.

She is keen to attract potential sponsors, or interested parties or individuals, to join her appeal.

Her aim is to raise 20,000 for the Sussex Association of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, in memory of her late son Andrew.

She said,'I am honoured to be the chairman of Rother District Council, but I also want to make a difference in my year in office, and that is my support for SASBAH.

'It is a wonderful organisation, that does a wonderful job for people throughout the county.

'I am looking for businesses, or local people who want to get involved in my appeal.

'The champagne reception on Wednesday at 6pm is to kick off the appeal, and I am grateful to the hotel for sponsoring the reception. It is very kind of James Kimber.'

If you would like to eb involved, call Rom, the general manager of SASBAH, on 07790 38542 or email [email protected]

Below is Mrs Gadd's story:

She is chairman of Rother District Council but Joanne Gadd is also a mother who lost her son to Spina Bifida.

One of her first moves when elected was to promise to raise 20,000 for SASBAH, the Sussex Association For Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, which she is doing in memory of Andrew.

He died at the age of 31 but though life was short he lived it to the full, enjoying freedom and independence right to the end.

Andrew was born in Solihull, West Midlands, where Joanne and her family lived before moving to Bexhill in the early 1990's.

He was diagnosed with Spina Bifida immediately and was paralysed from the waist down.

Andrew was a bright and adventurous spirit even as a child - at five years old he told his mother he wanted to attend a boarding school near Harrogate, aware at such a young age he wanted to go his own way and not stay protected at home.

Joanne commented: "It was the making of him - it really was."

Andrew moved to Thieves Wood in Nottingham and finished his education before going to a centre in Wolverhampton for young adults. Joanne hoped he would decide to live at home but he never did.

"He was full of life with a terrific sense of humour. If anything failed he would laugh at it. He felt life was to be lived."

"He had this terrific get-up-and-go and nothing was going to beat him. If he wanted to do something he would do it."

She remembers another time he had a serious operation and when she visited afterwards she found him recovered, and wheeling up and down the ward. A nearby patient told her - your son puts us to shame.

Andrew lived on his own terms until he suddenly suffered kidney failure and Joanne and his younger sister Jane rushed to hospital to be at his side. He seemed to recover after a day and a night and they returned home but were quickly summoned back - he died the next morning.

It is Joanne's intention now to raise 20,000 during the next 12 months but continue afterwards to support SASBAH and its work.

SASBAH is a local organisation that supports children and young people with severe physical or learning disablities and also helps families cope with the demand and constant pressure of continuous care.

At least 400 people in Sussex have either Spina Bifida or Hydrocephalus, or both, and these are lifelong conditions with the potential to devastate.

"Having had a disabled son myself I realise how difficult life can be without any support," said Joanne.

"Back in the 60's when my son was born with a severe physical disability the support and medical knowledge was nowhere near as advanced as it is now. Some parents can now access some much needed medical and social support thanks to the hard work and commitment of this local charity."

She hopes her appeal will bring a chance to make a difference to the lives of some of the most severely disabled people in Sussex and their families, and carers.

The first major event will be a reception at the Cooden Beach Hotel for local business people hosted by owner James Kimber. In October she will hold a charity ball which will feature a celebrity speaker and also be attended by guest Beverley Thompson, the BBC south east news presenter.

Find out more about the charity by visiting www.sasbah.org.uk