CLIMATE ACTION/CHILTERNS MS

Climate Action Wendover

Practical Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Last month we encouraged residents of Wendover to have a go at calculating their carbon footprint with an easy to use tool that can be found online at https://footprint.wwf. org.uk/. This month we are sharing practical tips on how everyday changes not only reduce your carbon footprint but could save you money.

Turn off lights

Get into the habit of turning off lights when you leave a room. Also turn off computers, televisions, and radios when you’re not using them.

Reduce Water Consumption

Three percent of the nation’s energy is used to pump and treat water. Just by turning off the tap while you brush your teeth can save up to 8 gallons of water.

Hang out your washing

14m households use electricity to dry clothes, when they could save that energy by hanging them out to dry. If all households dried one During lockdown, a member of the Chilterns MS Centre decided to set himself a very tough challenge to help keep him active and also raise money to help others with multiple sclerosis (MS). Patrick Burke, from Berkhamsted, decided to walk for one hour using his rollator, and set himself a large fundraising target. MS affects messages from the brain going to his legs, meaning Patrick has chronic muscle fatigue and poor balance which make walking extremely difficult. Despite this, he completed training most days and managed to walk for the full hour. Although he was incredibly tired afterwards, he said: “I am thrilled that I have proved to myself that I can walk for an hour. Way back in June when I started practising I could only manage 15 minutes so this really has been a big personal achievement and it is something I will remember for a long time. Equally pleasing is the amount I raised for the Chilterns MS Centre, over £5000, this load of washing outside each week, instead of by machine, a million tonnes of CO2 would be saved in a year.

Shop Local

Instead of driving to the supermarket, head over to your local farmers’ market and buy produce that’s locally grown. Not only will you help the local economy, but you’ll also cut down on carbon emissions from the vehicles used to transport produce from all over the world.

Stop buying bottled water

Bottled water leaves behind a massive ecological footprint from the initial creation of the plastic for the bottle, the transportation of the water to the store and then energy to recycle used bottles. To lower your footprint, filter your tap water and fill up a reusable bottle.

Whilst these might seem like incidental changes and you aren’t making a difference, collectively if everyone makes a few small changes they add up to a huge reduction in carbon emissions and that can only be good for our planet.

Chilterns MS Centre - Walk for one hour raises £5,000!

During lockdown, a member of the Chilterns MS Centre decided to set himself a very tough challenge to help keep him active and also raise money to help others with multiple sclerosis (MS). Patrick Burke, from Berkhamsted, decided to walk for one hour using his rollator, and set himself a large fundraising target.

MS affects messages from the brain going to his legs, meaning Patrick has chronic muscle fatigue and poor balance which make walking extremely difficult. Despite this, he completed training most days and managed to walk for the full hour. Although he was incredibly tired afterwards, he said: “I am thrilled that I have proved to myself that I can walk for an hour. Way back in June when I started practising I could only manage 15 minutes so this really has been a big personal achievement and it is something I will remember for a long time. Equally pleasing is the amount I raised for the Chilterns MS Centre, over £5000, this far exceeded my expectations. I would also like to thank Amy, Sharon and Lou from the Centre who helped me on the day. I did ache the next morning but everything was for a very worthwhile cause.”

The money he raised will help fund some of the many therapies and support that the Centre provides. Sharon Cooper, Head of Fundraising at the Centre, said: “We appreciate everyone who takes on a fundraising activity in support of the Chilterns MS Centre, but it’s extra special when someone like Patrick takes on a physical challenge. He took on his almighty challenge of walking for one hour, something he has never been able to achieve until today. To see him power through, with grit and determination, was incredibly inspiring. He has raised over £5,000 for his walk; this will help us to continue providing expert therapies and support for people like Patrick, whether through physiotherapy to ensure he keeps mobile for as long as possible, or occupational therapy to help him adapt how he does things to remain independent. We’re very grateful to Patrick, his family and friends for their generosity at this challenging time. It was a privilege to be there with you.” Patrick’s finish is above.

Patrick’s challenge forms part of the Centre’s latest fundraising campaign - Challenge 35 – as part of their 35th birthday celebrations. The charity, based in Wendover, has been supporting people affected by MS since 1985. They have challenged people to do something to raise money for the Centre in September. Challenges could be anything you want but ideally centred around the number 35. You can find out more at the Challenge 35 website – challenge.chilternsmscentre.org.

Brilliant work Patrick - now enjoy a few days of well-earned rest!

If you would like to sponsor Patrick you still can by going to his JustGiving page – www. justgiving.com/fundraising/walk4onehour.