A Cause for Hope in the House of Commons

Last week PLMR was proud to play a small part in the launch event for Elizabeth’s Legacy of Hope (ELofH), a charity dedicated to raising funds to support limbless children, on the Terrace Marquee at the House of Commons.

On a beautiful spring evening, Members of Parliament, celebs, dignitaries and various worthies came together to celebrate the charity’s launch, applaud the founders and pay tribute to the woman in whose memory ELofH has been founded.

Elizabeth’s Legacy of Hope (ELofH) has been inspired by Sarah Hope and her twin sister Victoria Bacon.  Sarah’s daughter Pollyanna lost a leg in a horrific traffic accident when she was just two years old, and Sarah’s mother Elizabeth Panton died at the scene. Sarah, too, was badly injured.  Since that day, the Hope, Bacon and Panton families have inspired all who know them through their courage. Pollyanna has shown amazing fortitude and can now walk, jump, skip and play just like her friends.

The family’s sad experiences and their struggle for recovery and rehabilitation has brought home to them how thousands of limbless children in developing countries don’t have access to medical care and support.  As a result, they struggle in unimaginable ways every day.  They suffer because of the injustices of poverty, malnutrition, landmines, illness and violence.  In memory of Elizabeth, who was kind and selfless in the time and energy that she gave to others, ELofH is working to help these children, giving them the prosthetic limbs and the support that they need so that they can have a free and happy childhood.  ELofH will also fund further technical research into prosthetic limbs.

ELofH is an entirely voluntarily-run charity and has limited resources.  The whole PLMR team was delighted to be able to pitch in to help the charity’s launch go off in style.  From helping draft supporting material and manning the door, to taking the photos on the night, PLMR staff were on hand to play their part for a group of people who really inspire them.

Attendance on the night was fantastic.  Richard Bacon MP (husband of Victoria Bacon) was the ideal host, ebullient and impassioned, and he was joined by many high profile friends and colleagues, including fellow Members of Parliament, Alan Duncan, Minister of State for International Development, Kate Hoey, and Minister for Disabled People Maria Miller.  Also in attendance were celebrity and disability campaigner Heather Mills, Director of Liberty Shami Chakrabarti and former Chief of the General Staff Lord Dannatt.

Check out our Flickr slideshow of photos below.

Over £5,000 was raised on the night, with every penny going directly to the causes ELofH supports.

Find out more about ELofH on their website.

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