Letter from Bertie Woolnough CBE Chairman, Valerie Taylor Trust July 2013
The response to the appeal for funds for the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in Bangladesh following the Rana Plaza building collapse in April has far exceeded expectations. To-date some £65,000 has been donated through the Valerie Taylor Trust – a truly magnificent sum – and more fund-raising events are planned.
CRP, located about 1 km from the site of the disaster, has been at full stretch from the outset. Immediately following the collapse, CRP helped with the evacuation of the injured, blood transfusions and first aid. At the same time it worked closely with other hospitals and clinics to identify those, and particularly the paralysed and amputees, who would need CRP’s specialist treatment.
So far 101 in-patients have been treated and discharged although many will require further out-patient support. Remaining at CRP are 59 patients undergoing long-term treatment whilst up to another 15 seriously injured are likely to join them over the coming months. CRP’s commitment to provide free medical treatment to the victims of this tragedy remains.
In addition many who have lost their livelihood will require vocational and welfare support to help them cope with their new circumstances. At the same time as coping with this additional workload, CRP has worked tirelessly to maintain its full range of services to other patients.
VTT’s substantial financial contribution has helped to ensure that treatment of all patients at CRP has not been affected by lack of money. For the future it is hoped that grants from the Bangladesh Government and other major corporate organisations will materialise and so help to meet CRP’s future significant additional costs.
Thank you for your generous support which will help to give those who have suffered life-changing injuries a better future.