Henshaws is a northern charity supporting people living with sight loss and a range of other disabilities to go beyond expectations. They do amazing work and are busy supporting people who are increasingly isolated at this time. Their team in Manchester is introducing a new, outbound telephone service to support the sight loss community, many of whom live alone and rely on delivery services for basic items. In Yorkshire, many of their service users have profound disabilities and require clinical support and they are taking extraordinary measures to ensure they have frontline staff available, and a second line for when their core teams need to self-isolate. Their service users with learning difficulties find change difficult at the best of times, and the current set of circumstances is especially hard for them, and they need extra support right now. All of the above is challenging, demanding and costs money. 

We are lucky to live in Knaresborough and are able to regularly go to the local Henshaws Arts and Crafts Centre for lots of lovely events. They are a fantastic and vital resource in the community. Normally each year, on the legendary Knaresborough Bed Race day, after watching the bed parade in town, we head with friends to the Centre to enjoy some food, drinks and music at BedFest. Sadly, this year we won't be able to do this due to Covid 19 and are conscious of the impact that this will have on the money that could be raised to support the work of Henshaws at this time. 

This is why I have asked some keen friends to get together, linking in with the Knaresborough Lions Bed Race Unplugged 2020, to hold a virtual bed parade in our homes. We will be decorating our real beds, using the Bed Race Unplugged theme (what I am looking forward to) and will be voting for our favourite bed. We will be unleashing the creativity. Our wonderful town crier, will even open the event! Everyone who has agreed to enter a decorated bed will make a donation to Henshaws and we would like to ask all friends and families do the same, wherever possible. Friends and family could even sponsor a bed! 

Please help us raise as much as we can for such an amazing charity. Thanks to everyone involved!