Diss Mercury Page 1 270314
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D i ss Mercury www.dissmercury.co.uk 60p where sold Thursday, March 27, 2014 15% OFF HYPNOS BEDS 10% OFF REYLON BEDS 10% OFF SLEEPEEZEE BEDS 15% OFF GAINSBOROUGH BEDS 10% OFF SALUS BEDS WWW.BESTPRICESBEDS.CO.UK 22 REDENHALL ROAD, HARLESTON IP20 9ER Tel 01379 855456 NATIONAL BED MONTH offers end Mon 31st March By Andrew Papworth [email protected] Wounded hero will tackle new mission As he lay in hospital after being struck by a roadside bomb while serving in Afghanistan, Sergeant Duncan Slater feared he may never be able to walk again or play a part in his new-born daughter’s life. Now, the double-leg amputee – who recently completed a gruelling trek with Prince Harry to the South Pole – is to use his experience to help children around the world who are suffering because of limb loss. The 34-year-old RAF veteran from Scole has just become an ambassador for Elizabeth’s Legacy of Hope. The charity – co-founded by Victoria Bacon, wife of South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon – was started to help children in developing countries who have lost limbs due to illness, malnutrition, accidents and violence. Sgt Slater described how frustrating it had been for him not to be able to walk after an improvised explosive device (IED) blew up his vehicle while on patrol in Babaji, Helmand province, Afghanistan, in July 2009. He also said how he felt he “wouldn’t be a good dad” because he would not be able to play with his daughter Lilly, born just after he began a year-long battle to walk at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Unit at Headley Court, Surrey. His wife, Kim, was five months pregnant with Lilly when the explosion happened. However he now walks using £10,000-a-piece prosthetic legs made of carbon fibre and titanium, which he said had given him the chance to be a good father again. It is not a chance afforded to many young people in the world who have lost legs or other limbs through no fault of their own. Elizabeth’s Legacy of Hope says that thousands of children in developing countries do not have access to good quality care and support, which means they struggle every day with their limb loss as a result. Sgt Slater said: “I know how frustrating it is not to be able to walk and get from A to B. “To think that it could be a kid that is left to their own devices as an amputee – how bad is that? “To think there are children who can’t get to school or do things because they have got no legs really hits a nerve. “I can’t reverse what’s happened to me. If I can do something with this charity, it may help me feel a bit better about things.” Isabelle Trick, from the charity, said they were very excited to have Sgt Slater on board. “He knows from personal experience how much of a struggle it is,” she said. “Even if you have the care available, it’s still tough. However if you live somewhere where care is not provided, it can be even harder.” ■ What do you think about Sgt Duncan Slater’s new mission? Write, giving your full contact details, to: Mercury Letters, 26 Mere Street, Diss IP22 4AD or email dma.letters@archant. co.uk ■ Duncan Slater interview – Pages 8-9 DISS TANDOORI Finest Bangladeshi & Indian Cuisine Luxurious Tandoori Restaurant & Bar Fully licensed Sunday Special Buy One Main Dish Get another Main Dish for FREE! BOOK NOW FOR MOTHER’S DAY Sunday Buffet Eat as much as you like Open all day from 1pm-9pm £8.95 Adult £4.95 Children (under 12) £6.95 Senior Citizens (ID required) Thursday Special £10.95 Per person (Eat in or Take Away) 1 Starter, 1 Main Dish • 1 Side Dish, 1 Rice or Naan (King Prawns £2 extra) Please call for details BOOKINGS AVAILABLE: 1-3 Shelfanger Road, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4EH 01379 651685 / 652912 20% off all takeaways FREE Home delivery available within 7 miles radius (credit cards and cheques accepted over £20) Book your table now for Mothers Day 6SLFH &RWWDJH 01379 640222 Dolphin House, Market Place, Diss IP22 4JT EXCLUSIVE INDIAN & NEPALESE CUISINE IUHH GHOLYHU\ DYDLODEOH spicecottagediss.co.uk NEW FOCUS: He’s trekked to the South Pole and recovered from horrific injuries. Now Sgt Duncan Slater is to help children around the world who are suffering from limb loss. Picture: SONYA DUNCAN
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Transcript of Diss Mercury Page 1 270314
DissMercurywww.dissmercury.co.uk 60p where soldThursday, March 27, 2014
15% OFF HYPNOS BEDS
10% OFF REYLON BEDS
10% OFF SLEEPEEZEE BEDS
15% OFF GAINSBOROUGH BEDS
10% OFF SALUS BEDS
WWW.BESTPRICESBEDS.CO.UK22 REDENHALL ROAD, HARLESTON IP20 9ER
Tel 01379 855456
NATIONALBED MONTH offers end Mon 31st March
By Andrew [email protected]
Wounded hero willtackle new missionAs he lay in hospital after being struck by a roadside bomb while serving in Afghanistan, Sergeant Duncan Slater feared he may never be able to walk again or play a part in his new-born daughter’s life.
Now, the double-leg amputee – who recently completed a gruelling trek with Prince Harry to the South Pole – is to use his experience to help children around the world who are suffering because of limb loss.
The 34-year-old RAF veteran from Scole has just become an ambassador for Elizabeth’s Legacy of Hope.
The charity – co-founded by Victoria Bacon, wife of South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon – was started to help children in developing countries who have lost limbs due to illness, malnutrition, accidents and violence.
Sgt Slater described how frustrating it had been for him not to be able to walk after an improvised explosive device (IED) blew up his vehicle while on patrol in Babaji, Helmand province, Afghanistan, in July 2009.
He also said how he felt he “wouldn’t be a good dad” because he would not be able to play with his daughter Lilly, born just after he began a year-long battle to walk at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Unit at Headley Court, Surrey.
His wife, Kim, was five months pregnant with Lilly when the explosion happened.
However he now walks using £10,000-a-piece prosthetic legs made of carbon fibre and titanium, which he said had given him the chance to be a good father again.
It is not a chance afforded to many young people in the world who have lost legs or other limbs through no fault of their own.
Elizabeth’s Legacy of Hope says that thousands of children in developing countries do not have access to good quality care and support, which means they
struggle every day with their limb loss as a result.
Sgt Slater said: “I know how frustrating it is not to be able to walk and get from A to B.
“To think that it could be a kid that is left to their own devices as an amputee – how bad is that?
“To think there are children who can’t get to school or do things because they have got no legs really hits a nerve.
“I can’t reverse what’s happened to me. If I can do something with this charity, it may help
me feel a bit better about things.” Isabelle Trick, from the charity, said they were very excited to have Sgt Slater on board.
“He knows from personal experience how much of a struggle it is,” she said.
“Even if you have the care available, it’s still tough. However if you live somewhere where care is not provided, it can be even harder.”
� What do you think about Sgt Duncan Slater’s new mission? Write, giving your full contact
details, to: Mercury Letters, 26 Mere Street, Diss IP22 4AD or email [email protected]
� Duncan Slater interview – Pages 8-9
DISS TANDOORIFinest Bangladeshi & Indian
Cuisine Luxurious Tandoori Restaurant & Bar
Fully licensed
Sunday Special
Buy One Main DishGet another Main Dish for FREE!
BOOK NOW FOR MOTHER’S DAY
Sunday Buffet
Eat as much as you likeOpen all day from 1pm-9pm
£8.95 Adult £4.95 Children (under 12)
£6.95 Senior Citizens (ID required)
Thursday Special £10.95Per person (Eat in or Take Away)
1 Starter, 1 Main Dish • 1 Side Dish, 1 Rice or Naan
(King Prawns £2 extra)
Please call for details BOOKINGS AVAILABLE:
1-3 Shelfanger Road, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4EH01379 651685 / 65291220% off all takeaways FREE Home delivery available within 7 miles radius
(credit cards and cheques accepted over £20)
Book your table now for
Mothers Day
01379 640222Dolphin House, Market Place, Diss IP22 4JT
EXCLUSIVE INDIAN & NEPALESE CUISINE
spicecottagediss.co.uk
NEW FOCUS: He’s trekked to the South Pole and recovered from horrific injuries. Now Sgt Duncan Slater is to help children around the world who are suffering from limb loss.
Picture: SONYA
DUNCAN
