Wellspring West Sussex
1406. Lizzie Baily
Lizzie Baily, from West Sussex, is a leading advocate for families with disabled children and has been fundraising for Royal Brompton Hospital by undertaking 100 outdoor swims during lockdown.
Lizzie, who has Congenital Muscular Dystrophy, has spent the last decade as Chair and Editor of ‘Wellspring West Sussex’, a charity supporting families with disabled children, which included running ‘Lizzie’s Craft Club’ from the art studio in her family garden.
In a personal letter to Lizzie, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“Every day I say thank you to someone in our country for doing something special by recognising them as a Point of Light.
“Whether it is Captain Tom walking laps of his garden, or people delivering meals to our wonderful NHS workers, the nation has been infused with a collective desire to give back to those who look after us. Today, I want to thank you for your incredible fundraising efforts for the Royal Brompton Hospital.
“Your outdoor swims are a wonderful way of combining your daily exercise with your fundraising efforts. You are an inspiration to us all!
“So, on behalf of the whole country, thank you for all that you are doing for our fantastic NHS and congratulations on becoming the UK’s 1406th Point of Light.”
Gillian Keegan, MP for Chichester, said:
“Huge congratulations to Lizzie on receiving a well-deserved award from the Prime Minister. Lizzie’s commitment to helping others is an inspiration to us all. Her work goes well beyond her fundraising efforts, as she runs several brilliant programmes including ‘Wheely Wonders’ that gives special needs and disabled children access to a forest school and craft sessions.
“Lizzie is a true champion for the disabled and has been a prominent advocate for the disabled and those with special needs for many years. I am so proud of the work she has done with our community and beyond including her fundraising efforts for the Royal Brompton Hospital. So thank you, Lizzie, and congratulations!”
Lizzie said:
“I was so surprised and delighted to find out that the Prime Minister had chosen me for a Point of Light Award! I feel very honoured to receive this and I have been overwhelmed by the generous support I have received for my swimming challenge. I am really happy that I have been able to raise money for the Royal Brompton Hospital whose respiratory team look after me so well. During lockdown I have missed being able to have face-to-face contact with the families and special needs children I work with for ‘Wellspring West Sussex’, but through our charity website and Facebook I have enjoyed keeping in contact with many of them.”
Pictured below: Lizzie undertaking her current swimming challenge to fundraise for Royal Brompton Hospital
