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Greg Mulholland-Working Hard For Leeds North WestGreg and Cilla celebrate the contribution of carers in Parliament
June 22, 2010 1:01 PM
Greg and Cilla at the Parliamentary Carers Week Event
Cilla Black OBE was the surprise guest as she joined Greg Mulholland MP and carers from throughout the UK in the corridors of power at the House of Commons. Speaking at a special Parliamentary Carers Week event, the iconic pop and TV legend spoke about her own experience as a carer and pledged her support to the UK's six million carers.
Cilla said:
"When you're a carer your life is often not your own. Caring can be very rewarding, it can also be very difficult. I know, as I cared for my husband Bobby until he lost his fight with cancer in 1999. Yet there are people, and groups who are there to help carers have a life of their own."
Cilla was joined on the stage by 51 year old Carol Mealing, from Brighton, East Sussex. Carol gave up her job as a Director of a multi-national financial services company to care willingly and lovingly for her physically-disabled husband Andy, who almost died during an emergency operation 6 years ago. Carol said:
"It's a massive upheaval losing your financial independence. And you're treated differently - being seen as 'just' a carer is very frustrating. People need to know that anyone can become a carer, at any time. Overnight my life was turned on its head."
Greg Mulholland MP for Leeds North West added:
"It was great that Cilla was able to come down during Carer's Week and lend her support to this worthwhile cause. Carer's Week is one of the most important events of the year, raising awareness of the vital and noble work that Britain's huge army of unpaid carers do everyday."