A FORMER first citizen of Clitheroe has praised the support of the British Red Cross in helping her husband who suffers from a life-threatening degenerative condition.

Val Cooper, who stepped down as the town's mayor in May, has been taking on an increased carer role for her partner Gary who has been diagnosed with cervical myelopathy which causes the nerves in his spine to become trapped and the bones to crumble away.

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The 72-year-old is also battling heart failure and has benign Parkinson syndrome.

The couple, who have lived in John Wells Court for more than 10 years, were facing the prospect of being forced to move and serious financial difficulties as a result of Gary's decreasing health before a Red Cross volunteer stepped in.

Val, 69, said: "I had met Lynn Harrison, who works at the charity, at The Pendle Club in Clitheroe where we provide help for the elderly.

"She came back to our house for a chat and she saw what state Gary was in.

"She told me that I was effectively his carer and that she would get the charity involved to help us get more support, which we really needed.

"Lynn wrote a letter to St Vincent's Housing Association, which runs our building, to see if we they could install a chairlift and a walk-in shower.

"We had spent so much up to that point in modifying our lives to make things easier for Gary that we faced eating into our nest egg.

"St Vincent's were fabulous and agreed to share the cost of the installation with us which was great news.

"We would not be in this much-better position without Lynn and the Red Cross.

"We cannot thank the Red Cross enough for its help with this and for the information about the support that is available."

Following the support that the charity has given the couple, Val, a former president and current secretary at The Pendle Club, has arranged for the Red Cross to hold regular drop-in information and support sessions for carers at the Lowergate venue.

Lynn Harrison, the service coordinator, said: "Our service provides information on available respite care choices, support to get people out and about to meet new people, take exercise classes and enjoy days out."

The drop-in information and support sessions will be held fortnightly on Mondays from 10am to noon beginning on July 13.