Wendy McCracken, Professor of Deaf Eduction to take Arctic Dip – Feb 8th 2014
27 Jan 2014Bramhall’s Professor of Deaf Education at Manchester University to complete Arctic Dip for deaf children and local Guiding movement.
On February 8th 2014 Professor Wendy McCracken will be taking a dip in Arctic waters to raise money for two small charities, Music and the Deaf and Stockport GirlGuiding. Both charities work tirelessly to support children and provide unique opportunities for them to try new things.
“I grew up in Styal where I was a member of the local girl guide unit. As part of my Queen’s guide award I had to undertake 3 months community service. I did this at the then Royal Schools for the Deaf, now Seashell Trust. I met a 4 year old boy Sean, profoundly deaf. All he asked me every week was ‘how many sleeps home?’ he came form the Isle of Man, was at the school September 1st to Christmas and of course this predated computers so no Skype, email of other way of contacting but by letter, and he could not read. This was my first experience of deaf children and as a 14 year old it made quiet an impact.
Six years later on my way home from University a lady got on the train at Didsbury and got off at Gatley. She chatted about what I was doing and what I hoped to do after University. I thought perhaps a Social worker or teacher but really wanted to understand individual children and their learning needs. She promptly suggested I applied for a place at Manchester University to train to be a teacher of the deaf. she then got off the train and I never saw her again. I would like to thank that person as she changed the course of my life and I am now a Professor of Deaf Education at the University of Manchester, currently the only such professor in the UK.”
Music and the Deaf is a national charity that works to provide opportunities for all deaf children to experience and perform music. Many deaf children have never had an opportunity to even try playing instruments, sing or sign to music.75% of all funds raised will go to Music and the Deaf, for details of this exciting charity, their work in the UK Europe and further afield please go to www.matd.org.uk
“Stockport Girlguiding is also close to my heart as it is through guiding I became a Professor of Deaf Education. I am now an Ambassador for Stockport GirlGuiding. There are many local girls whose families find it increasingly hard to afford the cost of meetings and whose daughters cannot join in any extra activities because of the cost involved. I want to set up a fund to ensure no child is left out.”
“OTICON have started the snowball rolling with a donation of £250 so your challenge is to add to the snowball! I will take photos and hopefully video too and post it up on my return. If you want any more information please email me.”
Please do consider supporting this Arctic dip by following this link http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/WendyMcCracken
OR go to FACEBOOK “Arctic Dip”
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