2022-09-15 16:24:06
Liam takes a leap of faith to raise money for Hft
A 34-year-old York man who has Asperger’s Syndrome took a leap of faith last weekend as he participated in a charity skydive to raise money to help “people like him live the best life as possible”.
“I believe all people with any sort of disability are God-gifted people who deserve the best life they can possibly get,” says Liam Thorley, who took part in the skydive last Saturday, 10 September at the Bridlington airfield.
Liam, who has never skydived before and has already raised more than £1500 for national learning disability charity Hft, says his wonderful friends and family members were out on the day to support him.
“It was the most best and greatest experience of my life,” he enthused. “I wish I could do it all over again.”
“They all know I’m doing it for a good cause as they believe the same as I do that everyone deserves as much of a good life as they have.”
He has worked for Bellway Homes for 18 years where he started off as a bricklayer before, in 2017, being promoted to “the best role I could ever get” as a traffic management banks man.
Liam is a member of a friendship and relationship service for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism run by Hft, known as Luv2meetU. For many people with a learning disability, feeling disconnected from society is a longstanding experience, with a third (33%) reporting they did not feel part of their local community, and almost half saying the pandemic had exacerbated their feelings of loneliness, according to a report from Hft, entitled Lockdown on Loneliness.
“What I have gained from being a member of Luv2meetU is making new friends, getting out there, finding great adventures, and getting the best life a man of my age could ever wish to have as I deserve it. “Someday I even hope to meet a nice lady to join me on my adventures!” he says.
If you would like to support Liam, please visit his JustGiving page.
Notes to editors
For further information please email media.enquiries@hft.org.uk
About Hft
Proudly established in 1962 by a group of visionary parents, Hft is a charity supporting more than 2,500 learning disabled adults in England and Wales. Together, we are creating a future where learning disabled people and their families can live the best life possible.
Providing personalised support. Creating solutions for living independently. Coming together to campaign for positive change. Fundraising for new opportunities and a bigger impact.
In 2033, we’ll live in a world where learning disabled people have greater choice. About where they live. The support they need and want. And how to spend their time and money.
Learning disability versus difficulty
A learning disability is different from a learning difficulty but the terms are often confused and used inter-changeably. A learning difficulty does not affect general intellect, whereas a learning disability is a life-long condition characterised by a reduced intellectual ability and struggle with everyday activities.
–
For more information about Hft please visit www.hft.org.uk
