This Wednesday (August 18) was the internationally recognised ‘Never Give Up Day’, a day dedicated to cultivating a mindset of determination, which helps us to get through all of the difficult challenges that life can throw in our direction.

I wanted to take the opportunity to share with your readers the fantastic work carers do to look after the nation’s most vulnerable people and say thank you for their resilience and determination. Many are solely responsible for the wellbeing of a loved one who rely on them completely, sometimes 24/7, without any form of a break.

The charity I work for, Revitalise, based in Chigwell, Essex, provide respite breaks for disabled people and their carers, a lifeline from the unrelenting pressures faced by carers.

Diane has been caring for her son Wesley, 27, all of his life, after he was born with cerebral palsy and is a full-time wheelchair user. She said: “Wes needs someone to physically feed him, he can’t do that himself. There’s no switching off, at all. You can’t have a phone call without planning it. I’ve been doing this all Wes’ life. It’s just me and Wes, stop start, so I leave my things. The only time we get a break is when Wes is away on respite.”

Another carer, Hilary, cares for her son, Shaun, who is brain damaged after an accident in Ibiza when he was 19.

She said of her responsibilities: “For the last 15 years I’ve been caring for Shaun but I definitely wouldn’t call myself a carer, it’s just something I do as his mum. There’s no let up, no way forward, no support. It’s just… everything. I’m never, ever, going to give up on my son. Life is too short you know; you need to keep fighting.”

The nation’s carers perform such a vital role in keeping the country running, saving the NHS millions every year and going far beyond the call of duty to provide for some of the country’s most vulnerable people. We owe them a debt of gratitude.

I would like the carers of this country to know that Revitalise are here to support you and your loved ones. Our accessible holiday centres offer disabled people a fun and relaxing holiday experience with 24 hour expert care, giving carers the chance to hand over the caring role to us. They can choose to accompany their loved one to Revitalise or enjoy their own break elsewhere, safe in the knowledge that their loved one is in good hands.

Devon Prosser, Revitalise

www.revitalise.org.uk