The Olive Press: Smile hope for Spanish boy Pablo

Below is an excerpt from an article found on The Olive Press website:

A SPANISH boy with cerebral palsy may learn to smile for the first time through pioneering treatment in the UK, which is unavailable in Spain.

Pablo with mum Yolanda

Pablo Fernandez Ruiz, 15, from Frigiliana, is unable to move his limbs or sit up without assistance.

But his mother, Yolanda Ruiz Gonzalez, is hoping to improve Pablo’s quality of life using Scotson therapy at a clinic in Sussex – which is expected to cost over 10,000 euros over the next three years.

Yolanda discovered the technique, which uses breathing and massage to help develop brain function, after her sister saw a TV programme about a five-year-old boy in Cadiz, also with cerebral palsy.

“It was amazing,” she said, after visiting the boy and his family. “He was very much affected by his condition beforehand but after the treatment he was so much better.”

Yolanda knew she had to give Pablo the same opportunity, but sadly did not have the money to pay for the treatment in the UK, so she approached Frigiliana Town Hall, who helped her fundraise.

A staggering 6,000 euros was raised on San Sebastian Day in January, where Yolanda held a raffle and manned a special bar, securing funding for at least a few of the nine trips she expects to have to make to the UK.

“Words cannot express how touched I am by the support of the people in Frigiliana,” said Yolanda.

“People have been stopping me in the street to give me money I know they don’t even have, because they are unemployed.

“I am a weaker woman than many people think, and extremely shy – but fighting for my son and seeing all the support from others is giving me strength.

“I never expected to see so much love for my son,” she added.

Kevin Wright from the town hall’s foreigners’ department will accompany the pair and act as an interpreter for Yolanda and Pablo during their trip.

“I am honoured to be involved,” said Wright, who has been given the week off by the town hall to help out.

“I have known Yolanda for a while, and when I found out they were going to the UK to help Pablo I thought, ‘how is she going to learn about the technique when she doesn’t speak a word of English?’ So I offered to go with her.”

The team will leave Spain on March 11 for the first week-long trip to Sussex.

Visiting the Advance Centre in East Grinstead, West Sussex, UK

www.tlc-charity.com

Below is an excerpt from an article found on The Tomas Leighton Charity website:

This was an amazing appointment for us and Tomas. One of our main reasons for going back to the UK this time was to visit the Advance Centre and for a consultation with the owner and founder, an amazing lady called Linda Scotson.

Linda has a 33 year old son who has Cerebral Palsy. As a result of her global investigation to help her son, extensive child development research and ongoing medical studies, she has developed a technique called “The Scotson Technique (TST)”.

Her technique is designed to replicate the results she has seen with her own son to help other children and adults that have brain injuries like Tomas, or brain function irregularities which cause other conditions. She also helps parents and carers to understand the principles behind normal child and adult development and how normal development milestones are affected by early or mid life trauma to the brain.

Her method and technique is based on the fact that oxygenation of the blood and delivery of blood to the affected areas is key to recovery and ongoing development and learning. Oxygenation of the blood and blood delivery is, in turn, reliant upon fully developed and strong respiratory and circulatory systems.

TST develops these vital systems to maximise the potential of the brain to help recovery and the function of other areas of the body, such as the organs, muscles, connective tissue and the joints.

These two photos below are of Linda´s son Doran both before and after applying her technique. The photo were taken between the age of 23 (asymmetrical and protruding shoulder blades, curvature of the spine and under developed muscle and general strength of physique) and age 26 (symmetrical and embedded shoulder blades, much improved spinal cord shaping and posture and developed muscle groups providing anhanced strength, usage and stamina). The first photo shows the progressive development (left to right) regarding the spinal position, posture and arm muscle development and the second photo shows the progressive developement (right to left) regarding the shoulder blades and general back muscle formation.

These improvements in posture, skeletal deformaty and general physique are clearly evident in the different photos and along with the physical improvements came other improvements in speech, movement, cognitive learning, social skills etc.

Doran is now able to run half marathons and has recently travelled abroad for the first time on his own.

We came away from our meeting with Linda feeling so much more knowledgable and positive about our ability to help Tomas reach his maximum potential. It is a drug free, non-invasive technique.

We have organised for one of Linda´s trained therapists to visit us for a couple of days at the end of April so that we can learn the technique and the individual and collective excercise programme in detail.

The technique uses gentle rythmic pressures to strengthen the weak tissue structures of the diaphragm and other respiratory muscles. This will gradually increase the pressure of circulation and increase the oxygen supplies to the joints, the arms, legs, pelvis, and vital organs including the brain.
It is relaxing and pleasurable for the patient and has no side effects. The exercises are performed over the continuous period of at least one hour daily, with short breaks between each exercise and additional short spirts of exercise performed in addition whenever time allows. Once the technique is integrated as part of our daily routine, we should start to see improvements in specific areas of Tomas´s disabilties within approximately three months and then ongoing.

You can find more detailed information on the Advance Centre website www.advancecentres.com

Watch this space, more news to come …………

Paralympic hopeful Doran Scotson nominated as East Grinstead torch bearer

Below is an excerpt from an article found on the East Grinstead Courier and Observer website:

A DISABLED athlete from East Grinstead has been nominated to carry the Paralympic Torch.

When Doran Scotson was born severely brain damaged, his mother was told he would never walk or talk.

But he has defied expectations by becoming an accomplished long-distance runner, a talented painter and a model.

Now aged 33, he has been put forward for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and also hopes to compete in the worldwide sporting event this summer.

His courage inspired his mother to research a PhD to find a way to help him.

Linda Scotson developed a unique therapeutic approach and founded the children's charity Advance, which now improves the abilities of brain injured children by treating their breathing.

She said: "At 33, Doran is continuously improving and pushing the boundaries of what is achievable for people with cerebral palsy.

"Huge numbers of people have nominated him to carry the Torch. For some years, he has wanted to run in the Paralympics and he has shown a real interest in carrying the flame.

"We thought it was sensible to look for someone who represents our charity and Doran is the perfect candidate. We decided it would be a brilliant thing to do.

"Doran is unique and it will help no end to flag up the charity and the potential of individuals.

"His goals are to go on running, to inspire, to raise funds and ultimately to run in the Paralympics."

Doran, who still suffers from hearing and speech loss, said: "It's very exciting and I'm really hopeful I can hold the torch up, for myself and for the town."

Mrs Scotson developed The Scotson Technique following years of research based on her understanding of the importance of the respiratory system.

The approach is a gentle, non-evasive, drug-free therapy carried out at the Advance Centre, in East Grinstead.

She added: "In the Paralympics, there are no long distance runs for athletes with cerebral palsy, because of their respiratory capacities. But Doran is particularly good over long distances, because he has that staying power."

Mrs Scotson said Doran's girlfriend, a swimmer, is also looking to take part in the Paralympics in August.

The date to nominate individuals to carry the Paralympic flame has now closed and the selected candidates will carry the iconic torch through Britain at the end of August.

Please Nominate Doran Scotson to Carry the Paralympic Flame

​Doran Scotson with Ross Thornton (right), showing off their medals after raising £2,000 for Advance in the Seaford Half Marathon in June 2011

As you may know, the Paralympic Flame will be coming through East Grinstead and Sainsbury's are looking for nominations for people who really deserve a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity to carry the torch at some point during a 24hr period from the evening of the 28th August 2012 to the evening of the 29th August 2012, as part of the London Olympics 2012 opening ceremony.

We obviously think our Doran should carry the torch on behalf of all our families as it would be such a lovely way of letting more people know what we do here at Advance. It's a bit eleventh hour because nominations close on Tuesday 14th February 2012, but we're giving it our best shot. So PLEASE NOMINATE DORAN ASAP!

Click here: 
https://www.sainsburys-torch-relay.co.uk/nominate/

Then copy and paste Doran's details below into the relevant fields of the form (nominee's details). 

Name: Doran Scotson
Address: Ryton House, Primrose Lane, FOREST ROW, East Sussex RH18 5LT
Tel: 01342 311137
E-mail: info@advancecentres.com
DOB: 23/09/1978

It would be wonderful if you could also encourage friends and family to do the same today!

Doran Scotson - background information

(Why we feel Doran should be nominated as a 2012 Paralympics torchbearer)

Doran was severely brain injured at birth and then suffered kidney failure and was on dialysis for
a month. He was finally diagnosed with cerebral palsy and hearing loss. When he was discharged
from hospital he was not expected to walk, talk or understand much. Doran’s courage inspired his
mother to research for a PhD to find a way to help him. She developed a unique therapeutic
approach and founded a children’s charity Advance which now successfully improves abilities of
brain injured children by treating their breathing. As a result of his mother’s therapy, Doran now
runs half-marathons and is an accomplished painter. At 33 Doran is continuously improving and
pushing back the boundaries of what is achievable for people with cerebral palsy. His goals are to
go on running, to inspire, to raise funds and ultimately to run in the Paralympics.

Are you a keen runner?

Would you like to run in this year’s Brighton Marathon on Sunday 15th April 2012?

If so we would like to hear from you NOW!

Advance is a local charity supporting brain injured children and their families, we and have some places still available if you would like to take part in the run.

If you are interested, please contact our fund-raising manager, Aimee Wiggins, on 07557 043736

Curves in Couture Fashion Show in Aid of the Advance Centre

 

The Curves in Couture fashion show, held at The Tabernacle, Notting Hill, London last November, featured healthy, curvy models as a fundraiser for Models of Diversity's sponsored charity, The Advance Centre! ("A wonderful organization that helps the families of brain-damaged children.") Countess Sondes, the main patron of The Advance Centre attended as did Caroline Rush, the CEO of the British Fashion Council as Models of Diversity's special guest.

First came The Diversity Show, featuring healthy professional models of different sizes, shapes, heights and ability levels in all colours and races sporting the latest in ready-to-wear fashion with model Kelly Knox, winner of the BBC's Britain's Missing Top Model.

Then the high-fashion show Curves in Couture, with top international curvy plus models such as Robyn Lawley, fresh off the cover of Vogue Italia, in sizes 14-18. The models will wear couture, from both up & coming designers like Danielle Liane and Miss Lacy, and established design houses such as Anna Scholz and Jill Alexander, who will be flying over from California to premiere her fabulous Spring 2012 collection at the show.

http://www.navabi.tv was the prime sponsor.

Fashion show raises profile of East Grinstead charity

 How the story appeared in the East Grinstead Courier & Observer

EASTENDERS star Natalie Cassidy (pre-Celebrity Big Brother) and designer Zandra Rhodes were just some of the celebrities who turned out in support of an East Grinstead charity.

Models took to the catwalk in a glitzy Notting Hill fashion show to raise awareness for The Advance Centre in London Road.

Founder Linda Scotson said: "It was a glittering success and I am overwhelmed by the level of support we have received."

The Advance Centre teaches parents of children with brain injuries how to deliver The Scotson Technique, a drug-free respiratory exercise that nourishes the brain with the extra oxygen.

The technique, developed by Ms Scotson following 15 years of research, helps children with cerebral palsy and autism.

Ms Scotson, who was surrounded by celebrities at the star-studded bash, said: "I don't watch a lot of television, so I didn't realise who a lot of these people were. As far as I was concerned, it was a group of extremely well-dressed and polite individuals."

The show, called Curves in Couture, was also supported by wine critic Jilly Goolden, dance group Flawless and East Grinstead's deputy mayor Liz Bennett.

EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy and model trainer the Catwalk Professor, Francis Mathew
photo by maxpictures.co.uk

The Scotson Technique founder Linda Scotson with East Grinstead deputy mayor Liz Bennett
photo by maxpictures.co.uk

Excerpted from: http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/Fashion-raises-profile-East-Grinstead-charity/story-14143653-detail/story.html
See also: http://southdownsliving.blogspot.com/2011/12/models-of-diversitys-curves-in-couture.html