HEROES OF THE SKY
London’s Air Ambulance celebrates its 30th anniversary this year
LONDON’S Air Ambulance has been saving lives in the capital for 30 years.
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The mums met nearly 20 years ago at a support group for children with special needs. Tracy’s eldest son, Miles, was born with Down syndrome and Suzanne’s daughter, Ella, was diagnosed as having CHARGE &'03& */ ."/: 4&3*064-: 65 /08 13&7*064-: )041*5"; 0/-: $"/ #& & 8&3& ; 5 #&$".& $-&"3 5)"5 /05 0/-: Syndrome, a rare condition that affects the ears, eyes, heart and growth.
Because of their children’s communication needs, they both started to learn Makaton, a form of sign language.
The pair – who live in Twickenham, London – decided to make the Makaton language programme accessible for everyone and went on to found 3&"$)&% 5)& )041*5"-= */ 5)& "*3 8*5)*/ '063 .*/65&4 "/% 5)& 08"%":4 " )&-*$015&3 $"/ #& 0/%0/4 .#6-"/$& "7&3"(&4 "306/% 4*9 .*44*0/4 " %": '-*()5 1"3".&%*$4 4*54 */ 5)& $0/530300. "/% .",&4 5)& $"-; ' 8& "3& &7&/ 580 .*/65&4 %*''&3&/$& #&58&&/ -*'& "/% %&"5)= "%%&% ; "3&5) 5)"5 $"/ #& 5)& 0/%0/4 /&8 #3"/$)0' "4 5)&*3 -0$"- $)"3*5: 1"35/&3 /& 0' 063 -"5& *3 )&"14*%& *44611035*/( Singing Hands, starting with multi-sensory classes. They haven’t looked back.
They now go to mainstream and specialist schools and hospitals to promote Makaton, and have made dozens of videos that people can use at home.
And every Tuesday they run individual and group sessions with children at Great Ormond Street Hospital.