Local business helps Paralympian Blaire Hannan raise thousands for charity
When Paralympian Blaire Hannan asked her local Mail Boxes Etc. post, parcel
and print centre at Bristol Clifton Triangle if they would print a poster to help her raise funds for charity, store owner Steve Wells was delighted to donate his services for free.
“Blaire wanted to publicise her 100km charity kayak challenge in Bristol
Harbour, and we were only too happy to print her publicity posters for
nothing in support of such a good cause,” said Steve. “When she sent us a
thank-you card recently, we were delighted to see we had helped her raise
£4,100.”
As well as providing post and parcel services, mailing address and virtual office services, the store specialises in all types of digital and lithographic printing for businesses, students and personal customers.
Blaire’s ’Paddle for Progress’ challenge - completed over four weekends in
August 2017 - was in aid of the charity Funding Neuro, whose aim is to
ensure that the most promising research in neuroscience makes it out of the
lab and to the patient.
She undertook the challenge in honour of neuroscientist Professor Steven Gill and his team at Bristol Hospital, who operated on Blaire in 2007 and helped her regain movement in her upper body after a rare neurological condition left her paralysed and critically ill by the age of 17.
Blaire, who is now a race coach, developed a passion for sailing during her
rehabilitation period and went on to become one of the country’s top sailing
champions and a member of the 2012 Paralympics team.