Badenoch to hear heroic cerebral palsy story
The remarkable story of a Kingussie man who defied cerebral palsy to make a name as a disability rights campaigner is to be told next week.
Jimmy Mackintosh who was born in the Badenoch capital to a lifetime of facing and overcoming huge obstacles to dwell more upon the wellbeing others than on his own travails.
On Thursday next week Caberfeidh Horizons bookshop will mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Jimmy Mackintosh, MBE.
“We will be celebrating his remarkable life and achievements,” said Helen Armour, general manager of the local social enterprise which does so much on behalf of those dealing with their own barriers to health, work and inclusivity.
Born with cerebral palsy in 1939, Jimmy entered Raigmore Hospital at the age of four and spent the next 40 years in institutional care.
Latterly he had been resident in Gogarburn Hospital, Edinburgh.
“Difficult as those times were, these experiences prepared Jimmy for a life spent helping others,” said Ms Armour.
“Dedicated to the cause of disabled people’s right to choose the life they want to lead, Jimmy became a leading disability campaigner, tirelessly working for people’s rights and challenging discrimination.”
He was awarded an MBE in 2006 in recognition of his work.
And yet the little Badenoch boy had not been expected to see his eighth birthday.
For all the difficulties he faced, Jimmy continued to campaign until shortly before his death in 2014 aged 74.
His remarkable story is told in a book “As Long as We’ve Got a Voice” written by Lesley Fox, one of his former personal assistants.
“Everyone is invited to come and join Sean Bradley of Thirsty Books and Maureen Martin, chief executive of the Edinburgh Development Group, both of whom knew Jimmy well, as they talk about his inspirational life.”
The event in the Caberfeidh Bookshop is free entry and starts at 7pm.