For up-to-the-minute news and information visit dailyecho.co.uk Monday, September 3, 201216

nn Fleming Park LeisureCentre in Eastleighholds aquatherapy sessionson Mondays,Wednesdays and Fridaysat 11.40am. These totallynon-impact classes are ideal forthose suffering from backproblems or arthritis orrecovering from injury. The SpeedoDeepwater Aqua class costs £3.15.

nn REMAP is a charity whichdesigns and makes equipment forthe disabled which is not availablecommercially. Telephone RichardBavister on 01590 616330.

nn MODCATS (Members of theDisabled Community AidingThemselves Successfully) meets at StJohn’s Hall, Hythe 10.30am-12.30pmevery Friday. MODCATS is a self-helpgroup for people with physicaldisability, providing a pop-in centre.Monthly speakers, outings and socialactivities are also arranged.Telephone: 023 8084 2525.

nn Wheelchair Basketball –Hampshire Harriers, ChamberlayneSports Centre, Weston Lane,Southampton, 1pm-3pm. Meetevery Sunday.

nn Saints in the Community footballcoaching – Oasis Academy Sundaymorning & Monday evening, suitablefor young people and adults. Call0845 6889370 for further details.

nn CLASSES of yoga-basedtechniques in posture, breathing,flexibility and relaxation are held atSouthampton General Hospital.The classes run on Mondays from5.30pm to 6.30pm and 7.15pm to8.15pm and also on Tuesdays inShirley from 1.15pm to 2.15pm.There is also one-to-one helpavailable in the city. Classes areideal for sufferers of chronicailments or as a support for carersof the disabled. Contact SueBatley on 023 8022 0789 or07759325859.

holding an aquay session on

This is a totallynon-impact class and is

or those suffering fromlems or arthritis or

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If you have any items to include on this page – regular meetings, one-off events or fundraisers – or want to contribute to Access All Areas, then contactnewsdesk on 023 8042 4522 or e-mail newsdesk@dailyecho.co.uk.

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SOUTHAMPTON resi-dents living with mentalillness are being offereda new haven in the city.

Determined to do somethingabout what she believes is adrastic cut in mental healthservices, Frances Heather isstepping out from retirementand launching a new project.

With more than 30 years ofexperience as an occupationaltherapist, Frances is offeringtwo drop-in sessions a week,where people can have a chat,seek advice or learn a skill.

However, to make it a success,Frances is looking for some vol-unteers to help out at the ses-

sions, for which she has securedfunding until March.

There will be two sessions aweek, one on Wednesdays atRopewalk in Derby Road,between 11am and 2pm andanother on Thursdays atWarren Community Centre inChestnut Road, from 12pm until3pm.

The first sessions will be onWednesday and if demand ishigh, Frances hopes to build onthe success in the future, start-ing a community cafe and bak-ing project, offering people the

chance to gain qualifications.She said: “This is my response

to the lack of services there areout there for people with mentalhealth issues in Southampton.

“I am offering a place wherepeople of any age, ability or dis-ability can just drop in and usethe facilities as they wish, wherethey can feel comfortable andhave someone to talk to.

“I hope that with more fund-ing, we can expand this serviceand it will evolve to what peoplewhat it to become.”

Anyone who would like to getinvolved, become a volunteer oroffer a skill can contact Franceson 07850 189069 or emailfrances.anne@btinternet.com.

Thanks for yourcare of my mumDARING fundraisers are being encouragedto follow in the brave footsteps of aHampshire man who is set to scale theheights of three peaks.

Alan Lee, from Fareham, pictured, istaking on the 24-hour Three PeaksChallenge in aid of Southampton’s Red andWhite Appeal as a thank-you for the care hismother received when she was battlingcancer.

Paula, 66, isnow inremission butwas forced tospend a monthin an isolationroom atSouthamptonGeneralHospital duringherchemotherapyfor non-Hodgkinlymphoma.

Alan, 43,wants hischarity missionin September to act as a thank-you to theteam who cared for his mum and help theappeal move closer to its £1.76m target tobuild a specialist unit for blood cancerpatients.

He said: “I wanted to take part in theThree Peaks Challenge by way of a thank-you to the hospital for the excellent caregiven to my mother, Paula.

“She, along with all the other patients,received the best treatment and fantasticcare, given the resources available.

“It is going to be a tough physicalchallenge and something of a mentalchallenge too, given my fear of heights.”

To sponsor Alan visituk.virginmoneygiving.com/AlanLee or tojoin him call Suzie Simmons on 023 80798881.

THE head of one of theworld’s oldest conservationgroups is taking on adaunting task for charity.

Peter Roberts, chairmanof the New ForestAssociation, and fellowwalker Linda Gaitskell,who is totally blind, arepreparing to scale Africa’shighest peak to fundresearch into Parkinson’sDisease.

Linda, 56, lost a closefriend to the disease andPeter’s sister Cathy hasbeen diagnosed with earlyonset Parkinson’s.

The pair, who met on awalk in Buckinghamshiretwo years ago, are planningto trek to the top of MountKilimanjaro in Tanzaniathis month.

Peter said: “This will be agreat challenge as well as a

way of marking the loss ofLinda’s friend.

“Although we’re bothactive we have no idea howthe altitude will affect us.I’ve climbed to about 13,000feet in Nepal butKilimanjaro is half as highagain at 19,340 feet.

“The mountain is on theequator, which meansclimbing from the tropicsto sub-zero temperatures atthe snow-covered summit.”

Linda, of Harrow,Middlesex, has been blindsince the age of 19 butloves the outdoor life.Despite her handicap shehas run a marathon andhas skied.

Anyone wishing tosponsor them can visitjustgiving.com/lindagaitskell-peterroberts, which givesmore details of the trip.

Frances seeks helpwith drop-in haven

n By Echo reporternewsdesk@dailyecho.co.uk

Ready to tackle Africa’s highest peak

HIGH AMBITION: Linda and Peter.