Tom shadows local carer for Carers Week 2004

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 14th Jun 2004

Tom Brake MP shadows local carer for Carers Week 2004 Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake will help celebrate Carers Week 2004 (June 14-20) by shadowing local carer Mick Lee, who cares for his son Kevin. Mr Brake is joining celebrities including Cilla Black, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Sheila Hancock to learn more about the unsung work of carers.

Carers Week is an annual event that supports the UK's six million carers - people who look after a sick or disabled friend, partner or relative. Many carers are not aware of the services available to them, and the thousands of events taking place help to highlight the support that exists.

Tom Brake said:

"Carers' week is an invaluable tradition. It reminds those of us who are not carers of the level of responsibility carers have to take on. For many, caring is a full-time job, that leaves little time for the activities non-carers take for granted."

"There is help and support available for people who have caring responsibilities. I would urge everyone in Carshalton and Wallington who looks after someone to contact their local carers group as soon as possible."

"Having helped to care for my husband Bobby - who sadly died of cancer in 1999 - I am very aware of how difficult, yet rewarding, looking after someone can be," says Cilla Black.

"Up and down the country there are people caring for a partner, relative or friend, yet unaware of the support and services available to them. Carers deserve our utmost respect and admiration, and I'm delighted to support Carers Week 2004."

The theme for Carers Week 2004 is health; two-thirds of carers who provide care for more than 50 hours per week say their health has been affected by caring.

Paul Matz, Carers Week Manager, says: "We are very grateful to Tom Brake for supporting the tenth annual Carers Week. If it helps even one individual to access vital support, it will have been worthwhile."