Tom Bowen Legacy Trust Fund brings a swinging smile to Bowen patient's face

 Ron Phelan, from the Tom Bowen Legacy Trust Fund, came all the way from Geelong Australia to The Kings Centre, Wigston in Leicester on Friday 12^thAugust to present a swing to 12 year old local boy, Amer Singh. The Leicester Children’s Bowen Clinic knew that Amer needed help to improve his balance and successfully applied to the Trust Fund on his behalf.  Amer will now get the stimulation he needs in a fun way, with a sturdy garden swing.

From left to right: Ron Phelan, Amer Singh and Amer's parents

Amer has attended the Leicester Children’s Bowen Clinic for the past three years where Bowen therapy has helped to improve his walking ability a great deal. The therapists at the clinic knew of The Tom Bowen Legacy Fund, which is well established in Australia and has just this year started a UK fund. They applied to the fund for a swing on Amer’s behalf, as recommended by his occupational therapist.

The clinic is one of a network of 36 children’s clinics around the country run by Bowen Therapy Professional Association (BTPA) members.  The therapists give their time free of charge and are run either free or for a small donation to cover running costs and enable many hundreds of families to bring children for treatment. Rose Ward, who organises the LCBC and its team of therapists says: "It has been a privilege and pleasure to help youngsters like Amer at the clinic, to reach more of their potential through the use of Bowen therapy.”

From left to right: Rose Ward, Amer Singh

Bowen is a simple technique which encourages the body’s own healing processes. It was founded by the Australian, Tom Bowen who used it to successfully treat people for a wide range of muscular skeletal conditions from the 1950’s through to his death in the 1980’s.  He found it to be particularly effective for children as it is so gentle. After his death, the Tom Bowen Legacy Trust Fund was established in his honour.  The Fund is run in the UK by Bowen therapists David and Birgitte Howells.

David Howells says “The presentation has been a way for us to support Amer’s occupational therapy. The use of this equipment stimulates the body’s natural responses and that is also what is being done with the Bowen Technique.  We are hoping that the presentation of equipment like this will become a regular annual event.”

All money held by the charity is raised by Bowen therapists to purchase electronic communication or mobility equipment to improve the quality of children’s lives. In the UK, BTPA members have donated over £300 so far since March 2011 and it is this money that has been used to purchase the swing.

Amer on his new swing