LOCAL CHARITY LAUNCHES ANNUAL AWARENESS DAY ON TUESDAY 27 MARCH

A LOCAL charity will launch an annual fundraising and awareness day on Tuesday 27 March.

Farnborough-based Parity for Disability, which provides services for children and young adults with multiple disabilities in Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire, is holding Parity Day to increase awareness of what Parity does and to raise funds that will help maintain its services.

The charity has adopted March 27 th as the date for Parity Day because it is the anniversary of its first meeting in 1953, when a group of parents of disabled children from the local area met to talk about the challenges they faced.

Participants in Parity for Disability's 2006 Summer Teen Scheme

Parity is asking everyone in the local area to organise a small event with their friends, pub, club, or place of work on or about Tuesday 27 March that will raise awareness and funds for the charity.

"What the person or group does and where they do it is up to them. It doesn't matter whether it's a simple raffle or an all-day event. We just ask that they get in touch with us to let us know," said Parity Business Manager Helene Abbiss. "We're grateful for every donation, and people taking part will be supporting a vital local charity."

Parity trustees and staff members will themselves be putting on a display and fundraising activities at Notcutts Gardening Centre in Bagshot, who have adopted Parity as their charity for the year.

Parity volunteers will also hold a 'penny mile' at Princes Mead Shopping Centre, at the Asda end, asking the public to put their spare change in the shape of a mile-long spiral on the ground.

Parity runs day centres in Farnborough and Camberley, Easter and Summer Teenage Activity Schemes, and a Music Therapy programme, and must raise at least £50,000 each year to maintain its services.

For some ideas on what you could do and to learn more about what will be happening on Parity Day, please contact the Parity office on 01252 375581 or visit the events page at www.parityfordisability.org.uk.

About Parity

Parity for Disability is a local charity providing vital services, information and support to children and young adults with multiple disabilities in Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire, and identifying the individual requirements of clients, their families and carers. The organisation runs two day centres in Farnborough and Camberley, teenage activity schemes, and a music therapy service that operates both on-site and in homes and schools. Parity is registered charity no 1071571. For more information, write to 94 Whetstone Road, Cove, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 9SX; telephone 01252 375581; e-mail info@parityfordisability.org.uk or visit www.parityfordisability.org.uk.

For more information, please contact:

Helene Abbiss, Parity for Disability: 01252 375581 (office), 07951 501324 (mob), e-mail: info@parityfordisability.org.uk.