£140,000 raised for dyslexia sufferers

Dyslexia Action has announced that £140,000 was raised for dyslexia sufferers at its recent dyslexia awards dinner, held at the Dorchester Hotel, London on November 1st.

The dinner was attended by a whole host of famous dyslexia sufferers including actress Zoe Wanamaker, Olympians Alan and Della Pascoe and renowned architect Lord Richard Rogers.

Ms Wanamaker, who was presented an award by comedienne Jo Brand, only discovered that she was dyslexic earlier in the year.

She joins the growing number of adults who are only just realising that they are actually affected by a learning disability and not, as some were callously branded as children, "slow" or "not terribly bright".

On receiving her award, Ms Wanamaker said: "I have always suspected that I might be dyslexic but this was not confirmed until I was formally assessed by Dyslexia Action this year. And what a relief, I can tell you!

"I am very honoured to receive this award and I hope I can be of some inspiration to young people struggling with dyslexia," she concluded.

The president of Dyslexia Action, Ken Follett, thanked everyone for their contributions, adding: "Monies raised will be used to provide help and support for children and adults across the country."

It wasn't all for celebrities though, this year Dyslexia Action recognised the work of Barbara Foster, a specialist dyslexia teacher and teacher trainer, by awarding her the Lady Radnor Award.

Jill Radnor, who died in 2004, was the wife of Dyslexia Action's first president and a tireless campaigner for young people and their needs.

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