MP Jack straw presents award
As Blackburn dental assistant Kara Walmsley stood in front
of a packed hall of people and collected an award from MP Jack
Straw it was a major achievement for her in more ways than
one.
Just months ago the very thought of venturing
out of the house let alone stand on a stage and give a speech would
have sent Kara into a panic. Yet the former agoraphobic was in her
element as she attended the award ceremony at Blackburn Rovers
Football Club.
Local employers and organisations at the event
heard how Kara had overcome her personal barriers to become the
600th person to be helped by our team in East
Lancashire.
During the ceremony she was formally
recognised for showing real strength and determination in the face
of adversity. The 34-year-old had not worked for nine years and
suffered from depression and was a full-time carer for her father,
who was seriously ill. When he passed away earlier this year, it
provided a wake-up call for Kara. She decided then that she would
not let illness get the better of her and she would pick herself up
and would start looking for work.