Are YOU Ready For This Year's Liverpool Military Show?

HILARY Baldwin from Barrowford and April Mills from Blackpool who met at an Epilepsy Bereaved meeting in Manchester last year are planning to walk alongside the canal in memory of their sons who both died from sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) aged 19 years.

Starting in Leeds by the canal on Sunday 13 May 2007, the women have planned to stay in bed & breakfast accommodation along the way and finish in Liverpool on Sunday 20 May 2007. Other families
bereaved by epilepsy are to hold a reception at the Eldonian Village Hall, Burlington St, Liverpool on their return which co-insides with National Epilepsy Week.

April and Hilary said:- “We and our families have found it hard to understand how epilepsy could take the lives of two otherwise healthy young men with everything to live for. Following Christopher and Roberts death, It became very important for each of us to find someone who had gone through a similar tragedy. Epilepsy Bereaved has enabled us to forge a unique bond of friendship and share a determination to make a difference”

By doing this walk Hilary and April are hoping to raise a substantial amount of money for research and to raise awareness of SUDEP.

There are 1000 epilepsy related deaths a year - more than cot deaths and aids combined.

500 of these deaths are SUDEP. Most of these occur in young adults who are otherwise healthy; they rarely occur in children; most deaths occur at night and SUDEP is therefore likened to cot death.

The walk will run on the following stages:-

Leeds – Bingley 16 miles Sunday 13 May 2007

Bingley – Gargrave 18 miles Monday 14 May 2007

Gargrave – Burnley 19 miles Tuesday 15 May 2007

Burnley – Blackburn 16 miles Wednesday 16 May 2007

Blackburn – Adlington 16 miles Thursday 17 May 2007

Adlington – Burscough 20 miles Friday 18 May 2007

Burscough – Aintree 13 miles Saturday 19 May 2007

Aintree – Liverpool 8 miles Sunday 20 May 2007

Ladies Luncheon Tickets Now On Sale.

ON Wednesday 30 May 2007 1pm a Ladies Luncheon will be held. All proceeds to the Merseybeat Appeal, which raises funds to support research into heart and lung disease at the Cardiothoracic Centre Liverpool NHS Trust.

The event will be held at Rueters, 26 Hoghton Street, Southport, PR9 0PA.

Cost:- £10

Please phone 01704 873286 for more information.

LOST GROUND OVER MIXED WARDS COMPROMISES PATIENT DIGNITY

A Department of Health inquiry published on the 10 April 2007 that it has found that 31 NHS trusts out of 172 has failed to eliminate mixed sex hospital wards.

UNISON North West head of Health, Stephanie Thomas said:- “Despite record investment in the NHS, over the past couple of years we appear to have gone backwards in the progress made to eliminate mixed sex wards. This undermines the dignity and comfort of thousands of patients.

It is clear, that despite welcome investment in our health services trebling to around £90bn a year under Labour, too much of it has been misdirected and wasted on endless and pointless reorganisations rather than simple frontline care that brings comfort to patients.”

UNISON is the UK’s largest public services union representing some 460,000 health workers.

Under-Secretary Of State to lay wreath in Southport

SOUTHPORT Falkland 25th Commemorative Parade is to take place on Sunday 20 may 2007. Parade forms on Chapel St at 10:00. The Under-Secretary Of State to lay wreath on behalf of the MOD on Lord Street's War Mamorial. All veterans and cadets welcome. Event on Princes park all day.

Messenger Blocker - Keeping Kids in Line, Online

THERE has been increasing concern about the amount of time teenagers spend in internet chat rooms and using instant messaging tools online and a recent US study has highlighted how online access is affecting academic success. The study revealed that teenagers with a MySpace account, mobile phone and instant messaging had significantly lower grades than those who did not and those who used these functions while studying reported having lower grades than those who did not.

A new computer programme is being launched in the UK in order to put parents back in control of the time their children spend on the internet and what they do while there. Message Blocker is a unique piece of software available for parents to download from www.messengerblocker.co.uk which lets them manage their children’s internet usage and block specific programmes such as MSN Messenger and MySpace.

As Jamie Claret, Managing Director of Messenger Blocker UK explains:- "Messenger Blocker is not intended to stop children using the internet. It has been designed so that children can access the internet to research and revise, but their access to social networking sites and messenger programs is restricted and parents are able to make the decision about how often and at what time their children are able to log onto these sites."

More and more children have computers in their rooms and parents often have little or no idea how their children are using the internet. Many programmes can block access to the internet, but they often block access to the internet in its entirety. Message Blocker gives parents the power to block certain activities such as downloading music, using chat websites and instant messaging while still allowing access to the internet for vital revision and research.

Jamie goes on to say:- "Many parents feel out of touch with their children’s online social life, and they know that the temptation to message friends rather than study is strong. Message Blocker simply limits the access to distracting internet sites and messaging tools, allowing parents to designate specific times for homework and recreation. The internet is a valuable tool for research and entertainment, but it’s important that children are set boundaries and learn how to focus without distractions."

With exam time just round the corner, Message Blocker will give parents everywhere peace of mind over their children’s internet access and put them back in control.