The BBS are delighted to announce the winner of the first Gareth Cumming Adventure Memorial Award is Martha Harris!
Martha is using the grant to contribute towards funding an academic year at the University of Alabama, where she will be playing wheelchair tennis in the National College League.
BBS Trustees were extremely impressed by Martha’s application and felt that the grant would contribute towards funding an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Martha is grateful to be receiving this award, telling CEO Patricia Osborne: “I’m honoured that the Brittle Bone Society has awarded me the Gareth Cumming Adventure Memorial Award. This actually fills in my last funding gap and makes my planned dream adventure into Wheelchair Tennis and American college life a reality; I’m absolutely thrilled!”
The BBS are thrilled that we contribute towards making Martha’s dreams a reality.
Have a great year studying in the USA, Martha!
The Gareth Cumming Adventure Memorial Award
Brittle Bone Society launched this award in the name of our late Trustee, Mr Gareth Cumming.
We invited applicants from the UK and Ireland who have OI, are aged 18 or over, and want to experience something new to apply for up to £1000.
Perhaps you want to travel independently, visit a new location, meet people or learn something new ie attend a training course. Having OI may put hurdles in your way, however, Gareth would have said: ‘nothing is impossible’.
Gareth’s Memorial Award was designed to assist with overcoming some of the challenges encountered along the way. This grant is intended to offer a boost of confidence and make a positive difference on your journey. The Gareth Memorial award is intended to help you take that first step.
About Gareth
Gareth Cumming loved adventure, new experiences, laughter, sunshine and especially travel. He filled a room with his smile and massive personality, he loved people and had unconditional love for his OI family. Gareth valued his independence and loved hearing stories of members of his OI family being resilient, confident and following their dreams.
First Winner Announced
The winner of the first Gareth Cumming Adventure Memorial Award was announced on 10/07/2023. You can read all about our first winner here!
The Brittle Bone Society, Interloch Community Transport and Sheppey Matters are the first charities to be awarded funding from Motability’s portfolio of grant programmes specifically set up for other charities and organisations who support the transport needs of disabled people.
The new funding will buy wheelchairs and wheelchair accessories for the OI Community. Patricia Osborne, BBS CEO, said: “This amazing grant from Motability means we can get the right wheelchairs for individuals almost immediately! Our previous process worked, and we cannot thank all those Trusts enough, whom we worked with over many years to do that. However, the size of this Motability grant means we no longer need to apply to several Grant Givers for each individual application, while people waited for those last portions of funding to come through. This will radically speed up the process meaning they won’t have to wait.”
We are excited to work with Motability and continue to provide the right equipment and wheelchairs to the OI Community.
If you are needing equipment or a new wheelchair, you can find out how you can apply for a grant here.
We are delighted to announce that Scotmid has awarded the Brittle Bone Society a £500 Community Grant. This generous award will cover costs of the BBS Hospital Kids Packs. Thank you Scotmid!
