filmed February 21, 2010 at BBC Centre, Wood Land, London.
On April 3rd 2010, I will be doing a wing walk to help raise awareness for Freedom in the Air, in particular for the Freedom Wings project. Freedom Wings is a wonderful opportunity to introduce disadvantaged or disabled youngsters to the freedom experienced in the air. A day in a light aircraft, safely taking control of the plane for a short time is a life-changing experience and enables young people to feel that they can reach for the skies and achieve virtually anything.
“Freedom in the Air allows people with disabilities to push back boundaries and experiences something that they could never have imagined. The freedom of flight has really transformed people’s thoughts and opinions and changed attitudes towards those with a disability”
Mick Dhillon, Chief Executive, The Disability Resource Centre.
Flying is one of the few activities where disabled people can participate to the same degree as an able-bodied person. The exhilarating experience rebuilds confidence and restores self-esteem. This, in turn, empowers people to explore their potential by extending their personal boundaries. In the air, we all fly at the same speed; nobody is disadvantaged or disabled.
The ten young participants, come from a variety of organizations (such as PHAB club, the Autistic Society, Barnardos, the Disability Resource Centre, the Young Carers Association and so on) will learn all about being a pilot, before having their own private 20 minute experience flight in a light aircraft with family members, where – if they wish – they can take control of the aircraft. Continue reading ‘Freedom Wing walk: April 3rd 2010 at Damyns Hall Aerodrome, Essex’
02
Mar
On February 23rd it was Rotary International’s birthday. It also saw the ongoing Thanks for Life / End Polio campaign here in the UK. The target is to raise more then £1 million pounds towards the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation challenge grant. Their organisation has donated US$355 million and Rotary will match it by US$200. I did a tour of the BBC news offices to help in the awareness campaign. This is an extract from BBC Radio 5 live interview which took place on February 21 st 2010. Other alliance members for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative are UNICEF, WHO and the US Centres for Disease control and prevention.
‘Thanks for Life’, a project involving the clubs and members of Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland, aimed at helping to eradicate polio throughout the world. Thanks For Life is a purpose-built initiative, specifically designed to combine the talents and efforts of every Rotary club in RIBI with these main aims… Continue reading ‘Full Circle India: Thanks for Life; End polio’
Various news footage of Full Circle Photographic show, Kolkata, India Nov-Dec 2009
A 30 mins current affairs discussion show with Moupia interviewing Gautam Lewis in West Bengal called Spotlight. The show is broadcast on 24 Ghanta – a 24 hour news channel. The areas of discussion include Full Circle exhibition to raise awareness for polio eradication and flying.
Polio survivor Gautam Lewis fight against Polio Comes “Full Circle”
Thirty-two-year-old polio-survivor Gautam Lewis who lives in London will travel to his birthplace of Kolkata India to help in the effort to eradicate polio – a crippling and potentially fatal disease that is still endemic in Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan.
After learning about the commitment of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a partnership of UNICEF, the World Health Organization, Rotary International and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Gautam was inspired to help the campaign to eradicate the disease in India and worldwide forever.
“Full Circle,” an exhibition of thought-provoking photographs centered on GPEI final stand against polio will take place on 4th December 2009. It will be held at Gaganendra Shilpa Pradarshasal. Kolkata, India. Full Circle will depict the valiant fight against polio in India through the photographs of Gautam Lewis. The show in Kolkata is being launched by Mr. Somnath Chatterjee, former Speaker of the Lok Sabha – Indian Parliament House of the People and Mr. H.A. Halim, Speaker of West Bengal Legislative Assembly. Continue reading ‘Fight against Polio Comes “Full Circle”’
Gautam Lewis of FITA collaborated with one of our Ambassadors Carol Naughton to produce the Peace of Art show in London.
Peace of Art Gig (Peace of Art ) took place at the University of London Union (ULU) on Tuesday 4 November 2008. That day had been chosen as it was the centenary of the birth of Professor Sir Joseph Rotblat, who launched the WMDAP (Weapons Of Mass Destruction Awareness Program) spent most of his life working for a world without war and nuclear weapons.
In conjunction with the Pugwash Conferences, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995 for their efforts towards nuclear disarmament. November the 4th 2008 was also the US elections – start of a new culture of peace – and thankfully a new President.
Damon Albarn of Blur talked about his literary influences before presenting the Written Word award and Rusty Bradshaw of Razorlight gave out the award to the winners of the music category. They will be performing at this years Glastonbury Festival, at the Blazing Saddles stage, along with The Futureheads. So it was great to see Geoff Martin, the Leftfield stage organiser, present the special invite to the winners, from Canons High School in Edgeware for their song “Walk Away”.
Around 130 young people, along with teachers, parents, friends and invited guests gathered at ‘The Venue’ in the University of London for the Peace of Art Awards Ceremony.
These are the rough timings for Get up Stand up – which is part of the WMD awareness programme at Blazing Saddles stage, Glastonbury 2009, on June 27th.
4.35 Ivan Brackenbury
4.55 Ed Byrne
5.15 The Futureheads
5.45 Music contest winners from Peace of Art ( Canons High School )
6.00 Tony Benn MP
6.10 Marcus Brigstocke
29
Apr
Sunday 26 April 2009 – Saturday 2 May 2009 is Save the Children Week, where supporters come together to raise money and make as much noise as possible for Save the Children.
On Thursday 30th April 2009, Save the Children is hosting ‘Strictly Save Them’, with 6 couples dancing their socks off in order to raise as much dosh as possible.
On a more serious note, obviously the real winner here is Save the Children, as every single penny they raise goes towards helping children across the world. There are still nearly 10 million children who die every year from hunger or preventable diseases, and we don’t think a child should have to die because of where they were born.
Freedom in the Air have donated a flight to be raffled at the end of the Strictly come dancing evening to help raise funds for their work.
For further information, visit Save the Children.
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