Paralympic Pride

 With the Paralympics now underway the pride of some amazing individuals is being celebrated and rightly so. They have worked so hard to achieve so much and represent powerful role models to us all, able-bodied and disabled alike.
 I am reluctant to say that I do however wonder whether these achievements will be looked upon as an 'excuse' to cut benefits; afterall if these heights can be reached and extreme difficulties surmounted then why can't everyone follow suit? The government will no doubt pump up it's own chest with pride when we win medals but lest it be forgotten most of these individuals have had to find their own funding and resources to get this far. They are also extraordinary in their fighting spirit and never say die attitude which is something that for the vast majority of us does not come naturally at the best of times.
 So whilst we celebrate the overcoming of overwhelming odds let us also remember those less fortunate for whom such achievements will never be possible! As benefit cuts loom ever larger be very aware of the odds they face just to survive another day.