“When one sees the blind, the deaf, the paralysed and the chronically mentally ill going about their business as best they can, one is filled with a compassion that steadily expands into admiration and silent homage. They have made the grade; they at least show the fibre of human excellence. It remains to be seen whether we will pass the test in our own time.”

Martin Israel.

Sheila Robinson, paralysed and blinded in a motor accident, was an inspiration to everyone at the centre. By her courage, wit and determination to live fully at the outer limits of human endurance, she illuminated our understanding of what healing means in the face of chronic pain and suffering.

Hospitalized and house-bound, she never came to Eskdale. Instead, she wrote letters – wonderful letters which were printed in our own newsletters and struck a chord in this community where an independent and proud people struggle with rural isolation, high unemployment, low income and severe health problems. Just the fact of Sheila, reporting back like an Indian scout from the frontiers of experience, gave people strength and the belief that if she could go on in the most appalling circumstances, we must also, and with good heart.

When we renovated an old outhouse to provide an extra treatment room, we named it for her and - when we moved to The Chase - we dedicated the main treatment room to her memory. Certainly something of her indomitable spirit informs the place. By the manner of her living and her dying, she gave to us an example of hope and trust that, no matter what, nothing is ever wasted.

Everything turns to gold.

During the three hard years between her accident and her death, Sheila benefited greatly from healing. She couldn’t come to us, so we went to her, and learned together where, and how far, love has to go to find the dwelling place of the spirit … the place where God was and we knew it not. The place of healing.

In life, Sheila was funny, brave and giving, and her family felt that she would have been pleased to know that her death would help others.

Although the Robinsons were able to cope with the extra financial burdens place on them by Sheila’s accident, they knew that many are not so fortunate and suffer financial hardship as a result of illness and injury. They decided to establish THE SHEILA ROBINSON MEMORIAL FUND to ensure that the Centre's special kind of help will continue to be available to everyone who needs it, regardless of their financial resources.

Sheila was a special and remarkable friend of the centre. Her memorial fund gives us a practical way to honour her memory while helping those who come in need to The Chase.

To make a donation to the Sheila Robinson Memorial Fund, you can do so by the following methods. Please contact us for further details (please state clearly that you are making a donation to the Sheila Robinson Memorial Fund rather than the general running expenses of the Centre:

• Paying electronically by PayPal. This is a very simple and fast method suitable for anyone with an internet connection and a bank account/credit card. Registration is straightforward and it costs the donor nothing to make a donation. Please click on the link below.

• Completing the donation form and returning it with your donation to the address shown.
  
  
• Setting up a standing order with your bank. You will find a form of Standing Order instruction here.

ACCEPTABLE forms of payment: Personal sterling cheques, sterling cash (sent by Registered Post please), postal orders, CAF and other charity cheques and International Money Orders. We can also accept US checks and cash, via a trusted US intermediary (please ask us for the contact details). If none of the above is suitable, please get in touch - we have many international contacts and can probably make suitable arrangements.

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