Heroine who put others first right to end of her life

DESPITE her failing health selfless Dame Vera Lynn displayed the heartache and worry of someone who always put others first during her final interview – with the Daily Express.

At the turn of this century the wartime heroine founded a children’s charity to help those born with cerebral palsy and other motor learning impairments.

But in May, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Dame Vera issued an urgent appeal after its funds were crushed by the crisis.

Since it was founded in 2001 The Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity has helped hundreds of families from across Sussex where she lived and the South-east.

It needs £10,000 to keep going and by the end of this year it must find a further £80,000 to £120,000 if it is to survive and continue helping those most in need.

In what was to be her last interview, published on May 18, Dame Vera told this newspaper: “I would be so very upset if we had to close, as it does so much good work for these children.

Upset

“Like many other small charities who I also feel very sorry for, we have been hit hard.

“We have some wonderful staff who have been raising funds despite the lockdown.

“I very much hope we can keep going and continue to help these children and their families.”

Dame Vera’s daughter Virginia Lewis-Jones echoed her rallying cry, saying: “Mummy will be very upset if it has to close. It has done so much good work.”

After she heard a facility near her home was in danger of closing, Dame Vera stepped in to help.

Since then her charity has helped more than 600 children.

The organisation helps youngsters develop physically, socially and emotionally, so they can lead independent lives.

It celebrates children, no matter what their ability is, to show parents and the wider world everything they can do.

The charity primarily helps children under five and gives families the support and skills to continue their development at home.

Children with cerebral palsy struggle to learn fundamental skills and are often excluded from everyday activities in their communities. Because they are unable to attend mainstream nursery, limiting their opportunity to socialise and integrate, Dame Vera was extremely upset that the children were at risk of isolation.

Before the Covid-19 crisis the charity, based in Cuckfield, West Sussex, near Dame Vera’s home village of Ditchling, was providing group sessions, swimming and music therapy among other services.

Since lockdown it has transferred its services online, including one-to-one sessions and tips on working on movement, muscle control and posture.

As cash dried up it launched an emergency online appeal called Keep

SmilingThrough – a nod to the lyrics of The Forces Sweetheart’s most famous song We’ll Meet Again.

Throughout the crisis it has offered one-to-one and family sessions via the Zoom video-call app, as well as giving parents exercises and activities they can do with children at home.

A statement issued on behalf of heartbroken charity staff vowed yesterday to continue its incredible work in Dame Vera’s honour.

It said: “We are devastated we have lost our president, Dame Vera Lynn, who passed away peacefully, aged 103, surrounded by her close family.

“But more than ever we are deter