The Mayor of Sunderland Coun. Bob Heron officially starts the Walk in Celebration of Carers at Herrington Country Park, on Friday.

by Sue Kirby
sue.kirby@northeast-press.co.uk

PEOPLE from across Wearside took a walk in the park in honour of carers.

Herrington Country Park hosted The Walk in Celebration of Carers, which was officially started by the Mayor of Sunderland Councillor Bob Heron.

People with learning disabilities and carers walked a one-mile route to recognise and celebrate the important role played by the 32,500 carers across Sunderland, who look after ill and disabled family members or friends.

The walk was organised by Washington Multi-Purpose Centre, part of Sunderland City Council’s Health, Housing and Adult Services, to link in with National Carers Week, and was supported by Sunderland Carers’ Centre and Asda.

Coun Heron said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be part of this celebration of caring in Sunderland.

“Caring can be anything from a full-time commitment to spending a couple of hours a week looking after others, helping them have a better quality of life.

“Events like this help not only to raise awareness of the massive contribution carers make to so many people’s lives across our community, but also to show those carers that we all recognise and appreciate that contribution.”

Lisa Hall, of Sunderland Carers’ Centre, said: “Every day, at least 6,000 people in the UK start caring, and one in three of us will be a carer at some point in our lives.”

“Becoming a carer can impact significantly on a person’s life – it takes time, energy, can leave you isolated and can affect you financially.”
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/local/all-news/walk-to-honour-sunderland-s-carers-1-5790732