On Sunday 15th April in Regent's Park at the Doitforcharity 5K Super Hero Run, she reached her own personal milestone while at the same time raising £10,000 for the charity KIDS

For 30 year old Alexia de Gunzburg, 5K is the furthest she has ever walked her life. Alexia has a condition called Familial Dysautonomia which affects fewer than 400 people in the world.

Her condition means that her walking pace is one quarter of the speed of a non-disabled person and her balance is severely affected.

Alexia completed the course in 2 hours and 10 minutes without breaks. She walks with a mobility aid and had not walked more than 1500 metres before starting her training seven months ago. On completing the race, Alexia said:

"I feel on top of the world by achieving this major challenge. I am also happy that my wonderful supporters helped raise over £10,000 pounds for KIDS. I hope it is put to good use."

Learn more about Kids here

Photo © KIDS

Mobile phones and computers with wireless internet connections pose a risk to human health and should be banned from schools, a powerful European body has ruled

Below are extracts from an article by Richard Gray, Science Correspondent in the Telegraph newspaper on 14th May 2011

See the full article here

A Council of Europe committee examined evidence that the technologies have "potentially harmful" effects on humans, and concluded that immediate action was required to protect children.

In a report, the committee said it was crucial to avoid repeating the mistakes made when public health officials were slow to recognise the dangers of asbestos, tobacco smoking and lead in petrol.

The report also highlighted the potential health risks of cordless telephones and baby monitors, which rely on similar technology and are widely used in British homes. Fears have been raised that electromagnetic radiation emitted by wireless devices can cause cancers and affect the developing brain.

The committee concluded that member states should:

•  Set thresholds for levels of long-term exposure to microwaves of the type emitted by mobile phones;
• Introduce clear labelling on products indicating the presence of electromagnetic fields and any health risks associated with use;
• Ban all mobile phones and wireless networks in classrooms and schools;
• Run information campaigns aimed at children and young adults about the risks to human health;
• Step up research on less-dangerous types of antennae and mobile phones.

The conclusions contradict advice from the World Health Organisation and the Department of Health, which says exposure to electromagnetic fields poses little or no risk to human health.

The Council of Europe, which has 47 member states and is based in Strasbourg, cannot impose its will on governments, but is highly influential in policy-making and has often seen its decisions enacted through conventions and treaties.

A draft resolution – calling on governments to "take all reasonable measures to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields" from mobile phones and similar devices, including the ban in schools – was adopted unanimously by the organisation's Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs.

The committee is composed of 84 MPs and politicians from member states, and its vice-chairman is Lord Prescott, the former Deputy Prime Minister. Its members reviewed the latest research on the effects of electromagnetic fields and took fresh evidence from experts before reaching its conclusions. The draft resolution will now go before the council's full Parliamentary Assembly for approval.

Public health and telecommunication experts are divided on the dangers posed by mobile phones and other wireless devices.

Prof Paul Elliot, of Imperial College, London, who is leading a major international study of the long-term effects of mobile phone use on 200,000 people, said:

"There are potential questions about whether mobile phones might have cognitive effects and impact on sleep. Mobile phone technology is clearly incredibly beneficial and useful, but we have to weigh up those potential health effects, so it is responsible to do research on that. In children, that research has not yet really been done, so we need more research in this area. In the meantime the advice is not to be excessive in use."

Peter Limbrick writes:

This is a very important appeal from the Council of Europe and it reflects very strong international concern about exposure of babies, children and pregnant women to this un-tested radiation.

Head teachers, governors, older pupils and staff in all UK schools should now debate this health issue and develop their own EMR Policy to protect children and young people.

Staff in UK organisations that work for children's welfare can now make a commitment to giving children and their own staff safe places for work and play.

To find evidence about delivering care closer to home (CCTH) for ill children

Abstract

Standard six of the National Service Framework (NSF) for Children, Young People and Maternity Services recommends that care for ill children should be delivered as close to home as possible. This research aimed to find evidence about delivering care closer to home (CCTH) for ill children, particularly in relation to: the range and extent of provision, the implications of CCTH for those who plan, deliver, and use such

services, and cost effectiveness.

Key findings

• Through a national survey of English Primary Care Trusts, Acute Trusts and Children’s Hospices, we identified three relatively distinct ‘clusters’ of services: specialist, hospital-based services; generic, community-based services; and a third cluster of mainly therapy-type services.
• Using four case studies, we found that a number of factors influenced the development and delivery of CCTH.
• At an organisational level:

- A lack of evidence made it difficult to develop CCTH. Problems defining and quantifying its effectiveness made collecting robust data difficult.

- Good relationships between commissioners and providers were important in developing CCTH services. Competition rules had, however, made this more difficult for some.

Further information:

http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/spru/pubs/rworks/2011-03April.pdf