Chairman raises £6000 for Sullivan’s Heroes

Councillor Forbes has served as Mid Sussex District Council Chairman since May 2017 but will step down from the role at the end of the civic year in April.

During his time as Chairman, Cllr Forbes has helped to raise funds for Sullivan’s Heroes; a Turners Hill based charity that offers support and financial assistance for families with disabled children.

One of the local families supported by Sullivan’s Heroes is the Wells family, and the Chairman paid them a visit to find out more about how Sullivan’s Heroes is making a difference.

Libby Wells has long-term and complex difficulties that mean she needs round the clock care. Her parents had to manually lift and carry her whenever she went upstairs, took a bath, moved from her wheelchair or even just to get out of bed. Libby’s bedroom was also far too small to accommodate all the equipment required to support her.

Sullivan’s Heroes supported Libby’s family in their efforts to raise £10,000 for home adaptations. A through-floor lift means Libby can now move around the home and between the ground and first floor easily and safely. Libby has a wet room that includes a shower and changing table, so that she doesn’t need to be lifted out of the bath, and a specialist height-adjustable sink that she can access from her wheelchair. There’s also a moveable hoist between Libby’s bedroom and the wet room, which enables her to transfer safely, comfortably and provides support so that she can practice her walking.

Councillor Bruce Forbes, Chairman of Mid Sussex District Council said:

“I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of our local businesses and residents who have helped us to raise this money for Sullivan’s Heroes. I would like to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.

“We’ve had some truly memorable events with a sell-out Glenn Miller concert performed by the ConChord Big Band and a superb pottery talk from the brilliant David Battie of The Antiques Roadshow.

“Visiting the Wells family this week it really brought home just what a difference this money can make to people’s lives. It was an honour to meet Libby and her mum Deana alongside Richard and Fiona Smith, the founders of Sullivan’s Heroes. I hope the money we have raised will play a small part in helping to support the wonderful work Sullivan’s Heroes continues to do.”