Praising inspirational charity fundraisers

I write to express my gratitude and thanks to Alison Bell, who took part in her 2014 Multi-Sport Challenge; Claire Marsden who runs Harry’s Star; and Jen Lambert, Lorraine Oliver, Sarah Kynaston and Katherine Booth, who collectively are known as Jack’s Journey.

Further thanks go to the people of Embsay, Skipton, Settle, Long Preston and surrounding areas for their continued support of these fundraisers over the past few years, and to everyone who has run their own fundraising events and contributed to this amazing total.

Collectively these fundraisers have raised £106,406.90 for the charity Brain Tumour Research & Support across Yorkshire (BTRS).

We are led to believe that brain tumours are rare. However, they are the biggest killer of the under-40s, including children, yet only one per cent of the UK’s research budget is allocated to this disease. It is up to charities, like BTRS, and our supporters to raise much needed funds in attempt to improve the outcomes for brain tumour patients and their families.

These wonderful and inspiring people have raised money because they have all been affected by a brain tumour diagnosis. Sadly for Claire, she lost her baby boy Harry. Harry’s Star is his legacy and the money raised in his name will help future children affected by a brain tumour.

Alison Bell and Jack’s Journey have raised money that will fund support for anyone affected by a brain tumour in Yorkshire, and have also contributed to vital research taking place at the Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology.

So thank you to these inspirational fundraisers, their wonderful families and the communities that have helped them.

Happy Christmas.

Rachel Finlay Charity manager, BTRS East View Terrace Barnoldswick Power of persuasion Sir - Wind farms only generate when the wind blows. Note that the wind must not blow too hard, and not too gently.

So there must be other means of generation for when the wind farm fails to produce. In turn, that means there is a sensible limit to how much of our total usage we can risk being supplied by wind farms.

Once we reach that limit, no more wind farms should be built. That would apply even if wind farms produced electricity at half the price of coal (which is certainly not the case).

I have seen nothing to say where that limit is, or whether we have reached it (or passed it!). Instead, we have a chorus on one side chanting ‘wind farms good’, and on the other ‘wind farms bad’. Neither is true.

Most of us will not have time for wind farms while we think that they are only being built to loot taxpayers’ money. When it makes sense to build wind farms without subsidy, and for the ‘feed-in’ price to be close to the normal retail price on the grid, then wind farms will gain general support.

Until then, trying to shut down the argument by describing anybody against the ‘gospel of wind farms’ as NIMBYs will only convince the ‘NIMBYs’ that they are right. Somebody with sound arguments does not need to resort to name-calling.

David Walsh Western Road Skipton Beware ‘junk mail’ Sir - The citizens of Craven and Ripon will have all received a piece of very shining expensive junk mail recently and I write to advise and warn against people reading too much into it. (If it seems to be good to be true - it usually is.) The publication emanates from Westminster I believe, via an office in Skipton. It is full of pictures of a relative stranger to these parts.

The most insidious part of the publication, apart for the lack or written evidence concerning what the publisher has really done in these parts, is all the pictures taken at lost of public events - paid for by the public - you. It begs the question what he has been up to with all that time in Westminster, apart from nodding (donkeys do this) at everything the Government has said or done. So much for representative democracy, unless of course, we really mean representing party interests before public ones.

And what are those party interest and in whose interest do they serve? Having been democratically elected but then supporting a Government which was not democratically elected but formed by a sleazy deal based on mutual greed for personal power, especially of the turncoat unethical Liberal Democrats.

Having ‘gained’ what was one of the safest Tory seats in the country, one asks by what merit? Surely a person who has lived some, if not all, of their life, or contributed significantly say through volunteering and charity work, in this rural community, would be best suited to ‘represent’ this community.

The Tory Government still bang on about the Labour Government getting us into this mess. The truth is rather different. The banks got us into this mess, the same banks that treat us so badly today, still, as under Labour, not properly regulated under the current Tory Government. Does it really take more than five years to get the necessary regulation in place, especially when the Government itself owns or part-owns a few of the banks?

So Mr Smith, instead of lots of smiley photos, can we have some real evidence of what you have been up to and definitive evidence of cause and effect. What have you personally done and much more importantly proof of what impact, if any, resulted to benefit the whole of Craven and Ripon?

Please do not insult our intelligence by saying the Government has turned the economy around - business does that, not Governments - as you should know. As a micro-business owner I can safely say the Government has done absolutely nothing for me. As a community member I can safely say the Government has done absolutely nothing for me. So why would I vote for you or your party?

People should ask themselves the same question, especially the 30 per cent of voters who didn’t bother to vote and will probably never read this.

Having been a member of both the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties in the distant past, it is very clear that the only ethical political party, with intelligent ideas for the future, is the Green Party. If Labour, Liberal Democrat and UKIP voters have any soul or ethics left they will unite and vote Green at the next election.

James J Paton Southfield Terrace Skipton Food bank support Sir - Cllr Peter Madeley makes an important call for support for Skipton Food Bank (Craven Herald December 11). It is vital that Craven District Council continues to help fund this vital work.

Shockingly, figures show that in parts of Skipton one in three children are living in poverty. Cuts to local support services forced by central government continue to bite hard.

Meanwhile, this government, supported by Julian Smith, has chosen to give a £3 billion tax cut to the richest income earners.

There is another way. The Labour Party would make different choices if it were in government and ensure that those in genuine need received help whilst working to improve basic pay and conditions for those struggling on the breadline.

Malcolm Birks Labour Party prospective Parliamentary candidate for Skipton and Ripon Ambulance appeal Sir - As a vital emergency service that provides lifesaving care and treatment to residents of Yorkshire and its many visitors all year round, Christmas is just like any normal working day for many of our staff.

To ensure patients receive the care they need we have staff working across vital services - our emergency ambulance service, including those taking 999 calls in our Emergency Operations Centre, and the 24/7 NHS 111 service providing advice and help for those people who have an urgent healthcare need.

We have been experiencing unprecedented levels of demand during the last week and we have been extremely busy responding to everything from heart attacks and strokes to road traffic collisions, alcohol-related illnesses and injuries, and providing advice on common ailments such as indigestion and headaches.

As this holiday period is a traditionally challenging time for us, I am writing to your readers to ask them to do what they can to ease the pressure on our services by behaving responsibly, looking after friends and neighbours who may be vulnerable at this time of year and staying safe. This will help to avoid the need to call an ambulance - something no one wants during this festive time.

Please stock up on medication to manage common health conditions, make sure you have sufficient prescription medicine to last over Christmas and remember to pack your medication if you’re going away.

Take care when you are out and about, keep warm and ensure you drink responsibly.

Please only call 999 in an emergency when it is obvious that you or another person has a serious or life-threatening illness or injury and needs time-critical help.

We often find our staff are caught up dealing with patients with non-urgent conditions where alternative care would have been more appropriate. These calls divert emergency staff away from those with potentially life-threatening conditions and can cause dangerous delays.

The trust is urging people to ‘Choose Well’ and select the most appropriate service for their healthcare needs. This includes self-care, pharmacists, GP surgeries and urgent care centres across the region as well as NHS 111.

A dedicated page on our website contains details of local walk-in centres and minor injury units across the Yorkshire and the Humber region in addition to the NHS 111 service provided by the trust. You can find the page at http://www.yas.nhs.uk/Calling999/Choose_Well.html or by clicking on the Choose Well link on our homepage at www.yas.nhs.uk I would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff who have worked tirelessly over the last 12 months to care for patients and to those who are working over the festive period for their continued dedication, commitment and professionalism during what will be a busy time.

As always, this is very much appreciated by the trust and, more importantly, our patients.

I would also like to wish you and your readers a very merry Christmas and a safe and enjoyable New Year.

Rod Barnes Interim chief executive Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust A heartfelt request Sir - I am writing to encourage you and your readers to visit your local Yorkshire & Humber British Heart Foundation (BHF) shop this Christmas. By doing your festive shopping with the BHF, you can spend a little and buy a lot.

The profit from items bought in Yorkshire & Humber BHF shops will help fund essential, life-saving research into heart disease.

After losing my husband to heart disease, I know how vital the BHF’s research is. It’s amazing to think that just by buying a thoughtful, low-cost gift, you are helping the BHF’s fight against coronary heart disease - the UK’s single biggest killer.

Yorkshire & Humber BHF shops offer a real variety of items that will make the perfect present this Christmas, from stocking fillers and Secret Santa presents to thoughtful, unique gifts. Some of the items on offer include clothes, accessories, toys, shoes, DVDs and books, mirrors, glassware and vintage china teacups.

Join the fight for every heartbeat by visiting your local Yorkshire and Humber BHF shop today and give a gift that really makes a difference this Christmas.

To find your nearest BHF shop visit bhf.org.uk/shops Best wishes and merry Christmas.

Esther Rantzen BHF ambassador