Claire Rayner becomes patron of carers appeal

Popular agony aunt Claire Rayner is to act as the patron for a Harrow charity’s appeal to raise funds to build a new centre for carers who look after older people and those with physical and learning disabilities.

According to the Harrow Times, Ms Rayner will front the Harrow Carers fundraising campaign, which will aim to replace its old building in Pinner with a new carers centre.

Harrow Carers supports and advises people caring for friends or family who are elderly, have a learning disability or are physically disabled.

Ms Rayner told the newspaper: “Carers are wonderful. Without them many ill and disabled people, like me, would be totally lost.

“I wish Harrow Carers everything they wish for themselves and the people for whom they are responsible in 2008. Heaven knows they deserve it.”

Harrow Carers needs to find £120,000 of funding by next March in order to build the new centre.

Mike Coker, the head of Harrow Carers, said: “Most carers do not recogniser themselves under the term ‘carer’. They are just people trying to cope as best they can while helping to look after, for example, an elderly relative who has developed Alzheimer’s, a partner with Multiple Sclerosis or a young child born with cerebral palsy.

“In the new centre we would like to have space for carers themselves to use for meetings, support groups, training and recreational activities.”

Ms Rayner will launch the campaign this June during National Carers Week.