A Wolverhampton resident supported by Priory Adult Care took part in a sponsored walk, with the help of carers, and raised more than £1,000 for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Daniel Wood, 26, who has a mild learning disability, approached staff at the Priory Adult Care’s Priory Supported Living West Midlands service, which helps him live in the community, with the idea of walking from Wolverhampton to the Grenfell Tower.
The walk started on September 4, and followed the route of the Grand Union Canal. Daniel walked 20 miles of the route which the support team completed. In total it took approximately 55 hours across three days.
With Daniel joining the last leg, the team were met a mile from Grenfell Tower by members of the London Fire Brigade’s ‘white watch’. Each station has four shifts, or 'watches': red, white, blue and green. The London Fire Brigade provided an escort of two fire engines and personnel, who cleared the roads ahead for the last mile.
Arriving at the Clement James community centre, there was a group of 50 people, made up of survivors, victims’ families and members of the local community, who welcomed Daniel and the team.
Daniel handed over a personal message which he’d prepared and carried in a baton throughout the walk. It was read to the crowd by one of the Grenfell survivors. The team were then met by two survivors and the parents of Jessica Ramirez, a 12-year-old who died in the blaze.
The survivors and fire fighters cooked lunch for Daniel and the PAC team at the local community centre.
Daniel and the team raised more than £1,000 from friends and colleagues. This included a generous donation from Inclusion Housing, landlords of the house which Daniel lives in. The total is rising all the time.
Priory Supported Living West Midlands offers specialist support for people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health illnesses, complex needs and behaviours that may challenge, and helps with aspects of everyday life such as personal care, healthy eating, medication, and maintaining their homes.
Lesley Wigginton, Locality Manager, said: “The whole team and I are unbelievably proud to have helped Daniel complete the walk. We were so touched by the welcome he received from the community in Grenfell, and their gratitude and kindness. Nothing could have prepared us for the horrendous sight of Grenfell Tower that stands in the middle of this community and we are pleased to have been able to do our bit to help and offer support to those affected by the disaster. Daniel did amazingly well and is so very proud of himself for both creating and completing this challenge.”
For more information on the specialist services Priory Adult Care can offer, please call the enquiries and referrals team on 0808 208 2147 or click here to make an enquiry.