Be Inspired!

Last Sunday I had the privilege of being invited to present the Compassion Awards at a Church service organised by the Trinity Life Church in Highfields in the centre of Leicester. The Awards had been created by their charity Open Hands.

I have been fortunate enough in my lifetime to meet some wonderful people who have achieved extraordinary things - from captains of industry to celebrities who have changed the world and the way we think. But Sunday was about celebrating special people who showed compassion to some very vulnerable people, and who gave their time for the love of those people, for the love of mankind. They didn’t even expect a thank you.

Awards were given to Colin Austin who used to be an MD of a printing company until he retired. Then he turned his skills and energies to volunteering to work for Intercare who send surplus patient-returned medicines to 107 rural health units in six African countries. 80 year-old Laura Williams has been visiting inmates in Leicester and Gartree prisons for over 20 years and is held in the highest esteem and honour by those she visits. Paul Bagworth has Multiple Sclerosis and has for years raised funds and worked extensively to support the Leicester MS Society. A giant of a man, when he came up to receive his award I said ‘I feel so small next to you’. He replied ‘You are small!’. My hand is still recovering from his unbelievably strong hand shake!

Bethany Rowley is only 18 and works to support children with disabilities and other charity initiatives. It was great to see such a young person giving so much of herself to improve others’ lives. Ramesh Mistry, who a few years ago himself survived a brain tumour, has devoted his time to helping others. Mary Gamble, aged 87, works tirelessly to represent and support Age Concern and Chris White runs a soup run with the Salvation Army and a Drop-in Centre for the homeless. Inspiring? Definitely. Humbling? Without question.

I came away from that ceremony feeling uplifted. In this world of uncertainty and economic crisis it made me realise that this country should be really proud of some very, very special heroes who are making a difference to those who probably will not be affected by our challenging economic times but who help people who are just concerned about survival. Long may we continue to applaud such special community treasures.

Yesterday, George Osbourne delivered his first budget. Yes, times are going to be tougher but compared with some disadvantaged folk – through all kinds of reasons and not necessarily of their own making – we really shouldn’t complain.

Let’s hope England win this afternoon and then everyone will feel better about everything!

We don’t know we’re born!

On Sunday evening Mike and I watched the moving documentary about Harry Patch (available to view now on BBC iplayer), the last survivor of the first World War, who died recently aged 111 years. If you missed the programme, check out BBC’s website to read his obituary.

Those of us who were born after World War II have no comprehension of what it must have been like to have lived through one war, let alone two! The first World War must have been unimaginably tough and for Harry Patch to have survived both to reach such an amazing age is extraordinary and inspiring.

As we watched the programme I felt immensely grateful – and a little guilty - for the fact that we live in a country where we have so much and everyday life is relatively straight-forward. Then I watched BBC Breakfast the next morning to see a soldier who had lost both his legs and his right arm in Afghanistan and who had come to terms with his disabilities, worked hard to learn to walk on two artificial legs and have a cheerful, smiling face with no feeling of self-pity or regret. What had happened was part of life and sometimes life is tough. Really tough.

My job is to help people to lose weight and become fitter and I am privileged to be in a position to do that but we should all take a moment to pause and re-consider whether we really want to eat that extra bar of chocolate or packet of crisps or drink that extra glass of wine which isn’t very good for us. We have choices and it is really important that we treat our body with the respect it deserves, to keep it healthy and fit. We should be grateful that we have two legs and two arms to be able to do our everyday tasks without even thinking about it.

So, long may we remember you, Harry Patch, and may you help us never to forget how fortunate we are to be alive in the 21st Century when life is good and worth living to the full. We really don’t know we’re born, do we?