Rutland Sailability opened up opportunities for Oakham man

Letter of the week

By the time this letter appears, my husband, hopefully, weather permitting, will have been sailing on Rutland Water twice.

He suffered a massive stroke back in 2010 that immediately changed his life and also mine forever.

It has taken nearly 12 years to recover a level of mobility that allows him to become a member of Rutland Sailability in Edith Weston.

This wonderful team of people have been operating on Rutland Water for over 25 years and once or twice a week, weather permitting, helpers and carers volunteer to accompany the less-abled safely and wisely, so that they can enjoy the pleasures of sailing on the water.

On Thursday, we were introduced to the organisers, who immediately made us feel very welcome.

Their degree of safety is enormous and amongst the helpers who had arrived, the buzzers and walkie talkies were going off all the time.

This is a well-oiled team of folk obviously dedicated to ensuring that everyone, no matter what their disability, can enjoy an hour or so of sailing, with the knowledge that they are being kept safe by people who care about them.

I felt a lump in my throat, as I watched two brightly coloured life jackets aka my husband and his carer, along with two crew members, disappear from view, knowing that I could enjoy a quiet cuppa and regain some of my own identity.

Thank you to everyone at Rutland Sailability and we hope that this first visit will be one of many.

Joan Williams

Oakham

Our cartoon, by John Elson, is sponsored by The Assist Group