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The current aims of our charity are to empower and support all people in the UK living with the late effects of Polio and Post Polio Syndrome (PPS). We are the largest national charity supporting people living with this debilitating, neurological disease. Through our Central Office, nine Regions, 45 Branches and Groups we provide the following services; information, advocacy, welfare, benefits advice via our helpline, free legal advice, grants for supporting heating costs, adaptations in the home and holidays. We aim to increase the support we offer and in particular within local communities.

Raising the profile of The British Polio Fellowship is a continuing campaign, to enhance its effectiveness and to seek out all those who may benefit from our services. Our vision is of a society where people living with the late effects of Polio and Post Polio Syndrome (PPS) have all the resources they need to lead full, active and integrated lives. We do not receive any government聽funding and rely solely on voluntary donations.

鈥淚鈥檓 delighted to front this appeal for The British Polio Fellowship. My family have a strong connection to the disease, almost being wiped out by Polio in the 1950鈥檚.

Now, dealing with Post Polio Syndrome is the challenge for survivors, and we鈥檙e looking to raise awareness of this often invisible disability and raise much needed funds for the charity to help its members cope with the day-to-day issues life throws at them.鈥�

Barbara is 86. When she was 20, she contracted Polio while working as nurse at a children鈥檚 hospital in Birmingham.

In spite of the devastating blow of her diagnosis, Barbara remained positive and wanted to live a full and happy life. She trained as a speech therapist, went on to meet her husband Derek and later had 2 children.

鈥淚 think the general public assume that polio no longer exists because its been eradicated, in this country, unfortunately that isn鈥檛 the case the polio virus is still having after effects on all those people who had it when they were very young and I think that doctors need to be aware that there are so many individuals who still need help as a result of the polio virus,

The British Polio Fellowship have helped me to maintain my quality of life but also enable me to spread the word amongst the medical community.鈥�

鈥淚 was affected by Polio at the age of two, which resulted in my right leg becoming completely paralysed from my hip down. Most of my childhood I spent living in India and Sri Lanka as my parents had roots from both countries. From a young age I have always been passionate about disability rights, equality, diversity and inclusion.

I migrated to the UK in 2002 and I came to know about the British Polio Fellowship (BPF) and joined as a member. It was straight away an emotional connection - Polio connected me to friendly environment where I can talk to them with confidence they started to help me out and give me guidance that鈥檚 what connects both of us 鈥搕hat was really good it helped me a lot to learn more about British culture and about supports available for disabled people.

British Polio Fellowship do some sport activities I also met a number of people who had polio that they play sports聽 meeting other people gave me a lot of confidence into the start of my life over here and nowadays I see they have some interesting projects like sports and other advice services. Its very important BPF continue as a strong organization its become a central place for people to get information."

Robert was 6 when both his legs were paralysed after contracting polio and for all his life he鈥檚 worn full leg callipers to help with his mobility.聽

鈥淚 call them my oldest friends! They鈥檝e always been a part of me鈥�

I鈥檝e no idea how I contracted polio, I just know I鈥檝e always had it and to be honest 鈥� I just got on with it. It was unfortunate but it was the way it was...

I鈥檝e always been very active, but in the last 5 years my mobility has decreased dramatically even though I have always been determined to keep as active as I can.

That is where the BPF have come in 鈥� I became actively involved about 10 years ago and they helped me get involved at a local level, engaging with them and with other polio suffers. Now chairman of the Northern Ireland polio Fellowship."