I get a copy of the Coventry Observer every week and I enjoy reading it.
I have two illnesses. One is Parkinson’s which many people have heard of. The other is called Progressive Supra Nuclear Palsy (PSP) and it seems to be very rare.
So I am curious to know if any of your readers have heard of it.
What I was told at Walsgrave Hospital was that as we get older our brains shrink a little.
But with PSP they shrink faster and it can cause problems with any organ of the body.
As a result of this I have had many falls because of poor balance and lack of mobility.
I can walk very slowly with the aid of a stick. But although the local shops are only two streets away, I have to get a taxi there and back.
I am not looking for sympathy just telling my story.
Many thanks for reading.
Benny McAndrew
Stoke
Coventry
I am very pleased that Mr Rick Stanton, a former Coventry Fire-fighter who led the ‘mission impossible’ to free 12 boys and their football coach from a flooded cave in Thailand, and came back safely, is to be honoured.
At the next Full Council meeting on Tuesday September 4, he will receive two awards from Coventry City Council; the prestigious Coventry Award of Merit and a Good Citizen Award.
An Award of Merit acknowledges and honours behaviour reflecting the highest ideals of citizenship or outstanding performance in any worthy field of human endeavour. The Good Citizen Award recognises the efforts of people who help or improve their community.
Rick worked at Canley Fire Station in Westwood Ward, often in very demanding situations. We can all be proud that such brave people live and work in our City.
Councillor Marcus Lapsa
Westwood Ward
Coventry City Council
During the summer holidays, I would like to make your readers aware of the risks that our children face as they potentially spend more time online – and offer some tips on how to keep them safe.
Sadly, we know that many children are seeing inappropriate content. They can stumble across pornography and they can live-stream themselves, effectively taking a TV crew into their bedroom and broadcasting to people they don’t know.
We know that this can leave them open to grooming and abuse and can have an effect on their emotional health and wellbeing.
In a bid to tackle online abuse and the devastating impact it can have, we urge parents to understand the online world. Learn about the games and apps they are using and make sure that parental controls, privacy settings and online filters are being used. Internet Matters has some great parental guides on everything from live-streaming to the sites, apps and games that your children might want to use.
If your child seems worried about something, talk to them. It’s vital that parents keep talking to their children about their online games and take a look together at what they are doing and who they are talking to.
You can report inappropriate behaviour or material to an organisation like CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) and we would urge anyone looking for advice or support to visit www.barnardos.org.uk
The internet can be a fantastic place for children to develop and to grow. It’s a place where they can reach out for support if they’re struggling with a particular issue, but we all need to be alert.
Hugh Sherriffe
Barnardo’s Director Midlands & South West
