After over a year of restrictions and three lockdowns, this week we took another step closer to normal. This move is only possible thanks to the sacrifices we’ve all made and the incredible efforts of everyone involved in the vaccination programme. Nationally we are now well over 30 million vaccines administered and locally we are coming up to celebrating the one million mark in Sussex, which is a remarkable achievement.
The new rules mean we’ve now lifted the ‘stay at home’ guidance, so it is no longer essential to stay indoors, that said, it's certainly still advisable to limit your journeys and you must still work from home where possible. Most exciting of all is we can now finally mix with other people. Two households can meet in public spaces or private gardens, just in time for Easter – and for the more active among you, outdoor sports can also resume, from golf at Goodwood to rugby and football at Oaklands Park, and even rowing on the Chichester Harbour. I know lots of you will be taking advantage of these new freedoms.
As it is now Easter recess, I have a bit more time between the endless virtual meeting, which are usually back to back. So I am going to earn my chocolate eggs this year by supporting the 10for10 campaign. It was set up by my friend and colleague, Guy Opperman MP after he collapsed in the House of Commons 10 years ago and was diagnosed with a brain tumour. A decade on he’s marking the occasion with a charity challenge, all you need to do is pick a British charity, do a challenge with the number 10 involved, such as 10,000 steps, 10 press-ups, or even run or cycle 10k and of course, donate a minimum of £10.
I will be doing 10 circuits for 10 days, raising money for the MND Association. I chose this charity having lost a close friend to this degenerative illness, and I have several constituents who have MND and have been championing issues they’ve faced with me for several years now. Together we’ve raised concerns around repeat assessments for those who have long-term worsening conditions, and we’re now working to see what can be done to bolster research funding.
I hope some of you join me in a 10for10 - you can sign up here: www.10for10.uk. I will be posting updates on how I’m doing on my Facebook page, and I’ll add a link to my just giving page.
I wish you all a very Happy Easter bank holiday weekend.