Visually impaired man makes a splash for local libraries
23 February 2012
Visually impaired Marcos Sanjurjo, 29, took the plunge to raise money and awareness for his local library which has recently been closed.
Marcos, from Kensal Green in Brent, London, completed a 20 length sponsored swim in record time at the specialist hydrotherapy pool at Sense's Anne Wall day centre, to raise funds for the Save Kensal Library campaign.
Marcos has a sight impairment and reduced mobility due to cerebral palsy. He visits the Sense day centre three times a week and regularly uses the hydrotherapy pool to build his core muscle strength and help improve his mobility and fitness. Marcos is hoisted out of his wheelchair into the pool, and a guide swimmer supports him in the water. When he’s not in the centre, Sense staff support Marcos in a work experience placement in a local charity shop on Barnet High Street.
Marcos spends weekends volunteering at a temporary library outside the closed Kensal Rise library, helping local people borrow and return books and talking to members of the community about the Save Kensal Library campaign.
Marcos said:
"I’m delighted to have completed the swim – it was hard work, but great fun and I had a lot of support. I was determined to complete it because it’s for a cause I feel very strongly about.
"The library is so important to my community. It is somewhere quiet for people to sit, relax, read books, newspapers and use the computers.
"The vulnerable people in the community need the library, they sometimes can’t afford to buy books, CDs and DVDs so they can borrow them thanks to the library.
"Some people need the library so they see others and are not alone; other libraries are too far to travel. I will continue to support the library and volunteer at the pop-up library in Kensal Green."
Clark Mullen, Assistant Day Service Manager from Sense, who was on hand during the swim, said:
"We are all very proud of Marcos here at the day centre, the determination and speed that Marcos accomplished the swim in was a sight to behold, what a fantastic individual. Marcos has a huge heart and is always thinking about how he can help others."