A life-long Disability Rights Campaigner will be the Special Guest speaker at March’s ’Speakers’ Corner’ at Peasedown St John Community Library.

Helen Sims, from Paulton, has had Cerebral Palsy since birth and cannot walk or stand unaided. Aged 14, she had several major orthopedic operations, spending almost four months in hospital, 100 miles from home, and had to learn to walk from scratch. She recounts her tales in the form of poems, essays and short stories in her book, Taking Steps.

Helen grew up in Writhlington and now lives in Paulton with her husband. She attended Writhlington School and was so inspired by teacher, former Head of English, Anne Rodgers, that she has dedicated the book to her.

Speakers’ Corner coordinator, Nathan Hartley, said: “Helen is a passionate and outspoken campaigner for Disability Rights and has been trying to raise awareness of the realities of life with a disability, hoping she can help people understand better, since she was eight years old. A contributor to the letters’ pages of her local newspapers and a former radio presenter, Helen never holds back from rais- ing awareness of what she believes in. Writing has long been her passion and Helen has been a member of local writers’ circle, the Somerscribes, for twenty years.”

In 2016, Helen published her first book, Taking Steps, a collection of poems put together since childhood.

Helen added: “It had always been a dream of mine to have my own book since I was a little girl.

“Disability isn’t the only issue discussed in this book. I’ve included short stories, poems and articles about a range of subjects. The main point of it was not only to raise awareness, but to turn all the negative things that have happened in my life, everything I’ve been through, into something strong and positive that might help others at the same time.”

Author and Disability Rights Campaigner, Helen Sims, will speak at Peasedown Library on Wednesday, 18th March, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served and copies of the book will be on sale.

For more information about Peasedown St John Community Library and Speakers’ Corner, email: [email protected]

Speakers’ Corner with Helen Sims takes place at Peasedown Library – 33a St John’s Close, Peasedown St John, Bath, BA2 8JG. All are welcome to attend.