If you’ve followed LimbBo for a while, you will know that our blogs following events usually start with a quote. This one is no exception apart from the fact it’s a quote from a long-time supporter who was at our event and supporting our young people.
Reading all the feedback this morning I think she summed up the day perfectly.
Some days are OK. Some days are good. Some days are awesome.
And then there are days that are just completely off the scale. 💜
Yesterday was one of those days.
Chair of trustees at Sport For All UK Foundation
Six months of hard work – planning, meetings, spreadsheets, designing, ordering, building, fundraising, booking, emailing, printing, invoices, researching…
It’s exhausting but SO worth it. Yesterday saw children with Limb Differences feel safe, feel special, feel loved and part of a community.
Our children have grown – physically (lots of them taller than me which is amazing as they were babies or toddlers when we began LimbBo) and emotionally (the joy of meeting old friends or making new friends just like them)
We had a post from one of our mum’s this week saying
“Mummy, I didn’t want to be born with a little arm”
Safe to say adventure day being 2 sleeps away is perfect timing for whatever is buzzing round ‘L’s’ little head moments like this stop you in your tracks but knowing in 2 days he will be surrounded by people just like him makes me feel super grateful for being part of this community.
Cannot wait to see all our LimbBo Family! This will be our 5th adventure day. I say this so often but it’s true. I CANNOT IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT LIMBBO
Callum, one of our Youth ambassadors had asked if he could make a speech – he wrote it himself and memorised it:
‘My name is Callum and I am one of LimbBo’s Youth Ambassadors. I have been coming to LimbBo since I was one and a half and now, I am nine. I just wanted to say a quick thank you to Adam and Katie who have made LimbBo. Adam and Katie have given us a very special place down here in Barnsley. This is more than a cricket field, it is an escape from being the only one-armed boy in my area, it is family and Adam and Katie have worked so hard for us all:
We see you…We appreciate you…We love you lots’
There were quite a few tissues in evidence after this, and we may well have the final line on the back of Trustees T shirts next year!
Our children are growing up, they are awesome and don’t realise how much hope and encouragement they give to younger children and their parents just by being themselves.
Our numbers are growing – the group photo this year had to be taken using our drone!
To our siblings, you play an important role, the support you give, and your unconditional acceptance of others is what helps to make Adventure Days such a safe space. A special shout out to Logan who designed and created 3D printed devices ranging from shoehorns to adaptive nail clippers.
In true LimbBo style we had a slight error– note for next year – when ordering T shirts don’t choose green if you have a photo booth using green screen – the floating heads photos were hilarious!
We had families who have been to all our Adventure Days (8 in total) and some who were first timers. We had visitors from the Never Say Never charity in the US, they worked so hard all week and so many of our children loved chatting to them.
Volunteers – what can we say … there is no way we could have pulled this off without you – marquees, stalls, carrying equipment, driving vans, picking up tables, setting up PA systems, running games, acting as support, cooking burgers, running after Florence (she pulled a fast one and had all of her ‘minders’ buy her an ice cream!), wearing mascot costumes, doing science experiments, art activities, making cookies – the list could go on forever – you know who you are and how much we appreciate you!
A big thank you to Ben who was awarded the Thelma Walton Volunteers award for his constant support for LimbBo
Congratulations to Callum who was given the Glen Crossland award for kindness and service to LimbBo
A huge thank you as always to Cawthorne Cricket Club for allowing us to use the venue and for fundraising for us.
To our ‘anonymous’ donors and those who support us every year – in Callum’s words ‘We see You, we appreciate you, we love you loads’
Adventure Day is booked for next year; our Christmas Party is Sunday 20th December so hopefully we will see many of you there.
PS don’t forget to sign and share our petition! https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/770298
Jane x
