A huge THANK YOU to everyone who took part in ‘Take the Plunge for Headway ’ Saturday 16th June Despite the appalling weather we had a 100% turnout for the event. Our intrepid fundraisers braved the howling gales and driving rain; with much enthusiasm they donned wetsuits and climbed into a speedboat to be taken out into the marina where they dived into the water and were rescued by one of the eleven amazing Newfoundland Dogs that were at the event. Amazingly every single person who took part came out of the water with a huge smile on their face and wanted to do it again!! A huge, huge thank you to everyone involved from Newfound Friends, the organisation gives their time and resources for free to support charities. Their enthusiasm and experience meant that the event was extremely well run. Another huge thank you goes to Portishead Quays marina who allowed us to use the venue at no charge. A summer message from the A ‘Volunteer’s Sponsorship monies are still coming in, but we anticipate that the day will have Eye’ view raised over £3,500!! Chief Executive

Summer seems to have bypassed us somewhat, but we haven’t let We wondered Ride4Recovery THE GLYNNS PUT ON THE RITZ the weather dampen our spirits. Our service users have enjoyed whether our new volunteers were many activities and trips including; a trip to the Gower in Wales, A On 5th August a team of cyclists enjoying their will be riding from Stratton-on- Thank you to Carole and Mel Glynn for holiday in Devon and various local outings such as open top bus an amazing donation of £4515, experience with the-Fosse to Weymouth to raise ride, Bristol ferry ride, @bristol, and museum visits. us, so we asked which was raised at their funds for Headway Bristol. The Unfortunately we had to cancel our Summer Fayre this year – but one of them, team is led by Damien fundraising ball on 11th Duncan McCaig, February. The theme was are busy arranging a “Garden Party” and summer raffle as well as McCutcheon whose two year old other fundraising events – so please look at the Fundraising section for his views. niece, Wren Bowell, narrowly escaped a serious brain injury when ‘Putting on the Ritz’, it was This is what embraced by everyone who for more details. If you are interested in joining our Fundraising she fell onto a pencil, which went through her eye socket into her group to help plan and organise events, please let Alex or Debbie Duncan told us. brain. Surgeons at worked for over 4 hours to remove attended as you can see from the photo’s! know. “As my first day volunteering at Headway the pencil and amazingly Wren was left with no damage to either involved going to the pub for lunch, I can definitely her brain or her eye. June saw our first major volunteer recruitment exercise. We held say it got off to a good start. Since then I’ve been Damien decided that he would like to two open events and interviewed over 25 individuals. I would like getting to know a diverse group of people while support survivors of brain injury and Could you have the to take this opportunity of welcoming our 15 new volunteers to going on walks, doing some brain training on the organised the 55 mile bike ride, winning ticket? Headway Bristol. They all have lots of different skills and computers, and realising I know a little too much naming it the Ride4Recovery. The experience to bring to the organisation and we are very much about celebrities’ lives while doing a quiz or two. team have set themselves a looking forward to them joining our team. Sophie Turnbull also left Over the last couple of years I’ve become fundraising target of £2,500. Enclosed with this newsletter are four books of raffle tickets for to take up a research post – although she remained on our bank for increasingly interested in the connection between our Grand Summer Raffle. the brain and behaviour, which led me to volunteer You can sponsor the team at Through the generosity of local businesses we have secured a few months. We will also hopefully have a new Development at a similar organisation to Headway in Slovenia. www.justgiving.com/Ride4Recovery some fantastic prizes including; a Nintendo Wii, meal Worker join us soon as we had to say goodbye to Carrie Piper who vouchers, spa day voucher, high street shopping vouchers, has left to join Gloucestershire Royal as an OT, but will It was while working there that the psychologist in family photo shoots and much more. the centre lent me one of Headway’s publications, remain on our bank to do sessional work for us. With people Head Injury: A Practical Guide, and so I thought I’d Tickets are £1 each (1 book contains 5 tickets). leaving, you get new people joining and we welcomed Danielle Please support us by selling the tickets to your family and get in touch with the centre here when I moved to friends. Cesenek as our new Senior Support Worker in May and two new Bristol. All unsold tickets, counterfoils and monies should be returned Support Outreach workers have joined us; Lucie who is a qualified Although I’d read a lot about brain injuries before to Headway Bristol before Friday 21st September. OT and Nikki who’s a trained Psychologist. volunteering, it’s been the experience I’ve gained The draw will take place on Friday 28th September. So, it has been a busy few months and looks in these centres that has really helped me get an If you require more tickets please email us at idea about the reality of living with the effects of [email protected] or call 0117 340 3771 set to continue. Enjoy the rest of the summer and I hope to see you at our Garden Party on one. But more than this, it’s the opportunity to meet such a varied group of people that I continue to th the 14 September! enjoy, especially as everyone is so open. I’m going to start a part-time masters in Kate Croucher neuropsychology later this year and intend to keep We are marking the end of the summer by holding a ‘Garden Party’ at volunteering here over this time. I’m not sure what Headway Centre on Friday 14th September between 5pm & 11pm. Coming out of hospital? I’ll end up doing after this, but now that I’m settled Headway Bristol services users, carers, staff, volunteers, members, supporters and their families are all invited. It’s an ideal in at Headway, I’m looking forward to getting The Red Cross offers a home from hospital service in South Glos. Trained stuck into some new activities, hopefully starting opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new ones!! volunteers provide companionship and assist with everyday tasks such as some Spanish lessons in a couple of weeks, and Admission is free; there will be a paying barbeque and bar, lawn games, a tombola and raffle tickets will be on sale. shopping, collecting prescriptions and general support in the home, for up to offering something back to everyone who has Service users are getting crafty and turning the day room into an indoor garden for the night, but the weather will be kind and 6 weeks after discharge. warmly welcomed me into the centre.” To find out more and make a referral contact the British Red Cross Home from we can make full use of the patio. If you would like to come please drop us a line so that we can estimate numbers for catering. Hospital Team. Tel: 0117 955 0213 or email [email protected]

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Headway Bristol News Chairman’s Message Spring 2012 Published quarterly by: I’m delighted to have been invited to be the Chair of Trustees at Headway Bristol. I’m looking forward to meeting many of you and to Headway - the brain injury working with you in the coming months. We face challenges in terms association of changes to the NHS, to our funding, and even to our physical

Headway Centre location with the forthcoming re-development of the Frenchay site. Frenchay Hospital These are challenges which I am sure we can meet by working Frenchay Park Road together and by working positively and creatively with our partners. Bristol BS16 1EH I’m conscious that Headway relies heavily on its volunteers and its Telephone: 0117 340 3771 supporters and I’m very grateful to all for your ongoing support. Email: [email protected] Equally important are our corporate sponsors and I hope to meet you Web: www.headwaybristol.org.uk all in the near future. Service users and carers are uppermost in my Providing services to brain injured adults and thoughts in terms of what I, and fellow Trustees, can achieve to carers in Bristol, , North provide first class assistance and support. Do Somerset and North East Somerset. please contact me if you have ideas for new or improved services! Headway welcomes… I am especially proud to be Chair as I will be following in the footsteps of my brother who New Staff Members… was Chair of Headway Oxford for many Danielle Cesenek, Senior Support years, following a head injury. Worker, who joined us in May, and Lucie Henley and Nikki Kosinski, Support Simon Birch Outreach Workers, who joined in June and July respectively. We would also like to welcome Lyn and A donation shows us the bigger picture Sarah Mitchell, who provide Minute At the beginning of the year we were thrilled to receive an offer of a Secretary support to the Board of donation of equipment from local business owner, Merlin Wigley of Merlin ACTION FOR BRAIN INJURY WEEK 2012 was a huge success both in terms of raising awareness of brain injury Trustees. Presentation Solutions. Merlin proposed that his company would provide, and fundraising.

and install, a complete large screen presentation system to Headway Thank you to everyone who took part and held table top sales, raffles, tombolas, balloon launches, cake sales and New Volunteers… Centre for use in delivering and promoting our services. donned their Hats for Headway. You helped us to raise £698. Our spring recruitment drive resulted in The offer was a huge boost for us since some of our services users have Special thanks to Headway Bristol Service Users, North Bristol NHS Trust Patient Records and Learning & the appointment of15 enthusiastic and poor vision, and so struggle to participate in the arts and educational Development Departments and Irwin Mitchell Solicitors for donning their Hats4Headway and sending in such energetic new volunteers into a range of activities we present on our wide screen television. lovely photo’s. roles, at Headway Centre and at our Clevedon outpost. Merlin and his team delivered and installed the equipment, which includes an Hitachi projector, sound system, PC inputs, DVD and Wii connections, all We would like to extend a big welcome controlled via pushbutton panel. Just days later the system was used for the to Katie Beale, Barbara Bluett, Manas first time when we gave presentations to groups of potential volunteers at a SIMPLE FUNDRAISING IDEAS Bose, Annie Campbell, John Dixon, series of Open Day sessions. Brian Hook organised a quiz night at the Keynsham Charity of the Year Isobel Fraser, Suzanne Johnson, Bianca Lodge on 2nd March and raised £435 Labruna, Sarah Le Butt, Duncan McCaig, It has been in frequent use Many work places nominate a charity to support each year or Jessica Perry, Mike Smith, Sandee Sond, since then for activities, some employers will make one off donations to charities training courses and to supported by employees. If your workplace is looking for a Ceri Southey and Claire Wright. Thank charity to support please nominate Headway Bristol. you to you all for the special things you present to members at our contribute to our work. AGM. Headway Bristol would like New Student on placement … to say a huge thank you to Shop online and raise money! Tom Stoodley is a pupil at Bristol Merlin Presentation Solutions Grammar School. Tom hopes to follow for the generous gift. It is a Easyfundraising is an easy way to raise money for Headway Bristol! If you already shop online with retailers such as his father, a Consultant Radiologist in terrific system and is Amazon, M&S, Argos, John Lewis, Comet, Vodafone, eBay, Boden and Play.com, then we need you to sign up for free to Neuro X-ray at Frenchay, into medicine. providing real, everyday raise money while you shop! benefit to the work of the Charity. In the meantime Tom is gaining valuable You shop directly with the retailer as you would normally, but you sign up to - experience working with the www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/headwaybristol Wednesday group at Headway Centre. Please let us know if you are going to be away! The great news is that Tom plans to and use the links on the site to take you to the retailer, then a percentage of continue to volunteer with us on one If you are a service user and are going on holiday, or you have appointments whatever you spend comes directly to Headway Bristol at no extra cost to yourself. afternoon a week when he returns to that mean you will miss a day at the Day Centre please let us know - with as much notice as possible so we can predict numbers for activities, outings and Happy shopping! school in the autumn. lunches. Tel: 0117 3403771/ 07527 820051; email [email protected]

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RUNNING FOR HEADWAY BRISTOL Preparing to fish in the work pool? Up, up and away... Another huge THANK YOU to Richard Bowen who continues to support Headway Bristol A big thank you to The Balloon Bunch for through his running. On 11th March Richard and two friends, Wilf and Geg Williams, were Even for a naturally confident person, getting back into supporting our balloon launch on among the 10,695 runners who took part in the Bath Half Marathon. They all achieved employment after a brain injury can be a daunting Thursday, 17 May. The launch, now an fantastic times: Richard 1hour 34mins (place 754), Wilf 1hour 58mins (place 4844), Geg annual feature of events to celebrate 2hours 17mins (place6969). Richard said that the weather was great, the sun was out and process. It can be much easier, though, if you know what support is available and where to get it. Action for Brain Injury Week (14-18 the three of them together with their families enjoyed a post race picnic on the banks of the May), focused on the dedication of river Avon. Between them the team raised an amazing £500. Despite current economic conditions, one of the carers. Those who bought balloons tied Never one to let the grass grow under his feet; Richard is running the Weston-Super-Mare Government’s declared priorities is to ensure equality on messages of thanks to their carers Grand Pier Half Marathon on 23rd September, it will be his 5th race in aid of Headway for disabled people in the workplace, and to help them and family members before the cloud of Bristol. THANK YOU & GOOD LUCK RICHARD! (left to right) Wilf, Geg and Richard with their medals find and keep jobs. lilac and blue balloons was released Chris Burfoot and Lee Edwards will be running the Bristol Half Marathon for Headway Bristol In recognition of the fact that people have different levels of need, the into the sky over Bristol. Sales of balloon on 30th September. Chris is running in memory of his father in law who suffered a head injury and passed away at Frenchay tags contributed £103 of the almost Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) set up an ambitious programme of £700 raised. Hospital last year. Lee is running in memory of his fiancée, Sharene, who died at home last year at the age of 37 following a brain employment support. The programme is designed to give advisers the haemorrhage. GOOD LUCK & THANK YOU CHRIS AND LEE! Congratulations to Judith Butler, whose flexibility to spend less time with someone who needs very little help and a lot balloon travelled the furthest recorded If you are interested in running for Headway Bristol in these events please visit the event websites: more time with someone with significant needs. distance; reaching the fire station at The www.grandpier.co.uk www.runbristol.com www.bathhalf.co.uk Under the scheme, if someone’s health conditions or disability mean they need Mounts in the centre of Northampton - additional support with finding or keeping a job they can have access to a some 110 miles from the Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) at their local Jobcentre. NIALL STEWART MEMORIAL FOOTBALL launch site. Thank you to TOURNAMENT RAISES £1,500 DEAs can give help and support regardless of a person’s situation. They can help the individual find work or gain new skills, even if he or she has been out Fire Officer On 4th January this year 19 year old Niall Stewart of work for a long time or has no work experience. Ian Kingston from Warminster suffered a triple brain haemorrhage We have teamed up with for contacting A DEA can provide help in various ways: and died shortly afterwards at the Royal United Recycle4Charity to raise funds through us with the news. Hospital in Bath. Niall was healthy, active and loved the donation and recycling of old and  an employment assessment to help identify what type of work or training unwanted mobile phones and used ink football; playing several times a week. Therefore, It suits the person best cartridges. Included with this was a fitting tribute that his friends should organise  a job-matching service - the DEA will make the individual aware of jobs newsletter is a pre‐paid envelope, so a football tournament in his memory. that match their experience and skills, and provide advice about Access Useful websites please hunt out those old phones and to Work The tournament took place on 13th May at turn them into cash for Headway Clevedon Forbes Fund is a Christian Warminster Highbury Football Club Ground. Niall’s Bristol.  if appropriate, a referral to the Work Programme to help them prepare charity that gives grants to people family were at the event and presented the trophy to An amazing lady called Angela Cockram for and stay in work of limited means who need a break the winning team. They wanted to recognise Niall’s love of his local has been collecting phones from far  a referral, where appropriate, to a programme for people with a to convalesce. Applications must be football team and to support people who have survived a brain and wide and thanks to her efforts we disability, like Work Choice, Access to Work or Residential Training made by a professional - see haemorrhage so the proceeds from the event were split between have received over £280 in the last 6 www.clevedonforbes.org  information on local employers who have adopted the 'two ticks' Heytesbury Football Club and Headway Bristol. months. The benefit is twofold as the disability symbol Accessible Travel & Leisure offers We are very grateful to Niall’s family and friends for choosing to support recycling has saved 28 kilograms of accommodation in the UK, Europe The Work Choice scheme is delivered for the Government by private and South Africa, as well as tours organisations such as Shaw Trust and Working Links. A person referred to this and river cruises. They handle all programme can expect to be taken through three modules on their journey SIMPLE FUNDRAISING IDEAS arrangements and special Mufti Days at schools, workplaces, colleges … back into work. The Carers Group organised a Quiz Night on requirements door to door - see Mufti days or dress down days are an ideal way to raise funds for Module One can last up to six months and may involve voluntary work www.accessibletravel.co.uk 27th January 2012 and raised £1445.20 Headway Bristol. Please think of us and nominate us to your workplace, placements. It takes the jobseeker through finding a job and preparing to school or college. enter work; followed by short to medium term work support, or longer term in Disability Holidays Guide brings a choice of holiday opportunities to work support. those living with special needs and Modules Two and Three continue to provide support for up to two years mobility difficulties - see Ways to give overall, and help the person progress, if appropriate for them, to www.disabilityholidaysguide.com unsupported employment. This is a very cost You can now donate to Www-to-Work-Club is a computer effective way for Headway Bristol via your The Access to Work programme is open to anyone who is in, or is about to training and support service donations to be mobile phone. start, paid employment and who has a long-term health condition or disability provided by The Vassall Centre that affects him or her in work. made to Headway Bristol. Donations can be made If you wish to donate by this Trust for disabled people, older through the justgiving.com website and individual method please text HWBR16 and the amount you want Access to Work can cover the costs of specialised workplace people and carers. They have great fundraisers are able to set up their own personal page, assessments, and can contribute towards the cost of any specialised equipment specialised equipment – see to donate linked to Headway Bristol, to detail what they are doing made necessary because of the employee’s condition. It can provide help to www.vassallcentre.org/www-to- to raise funds; e.g running a half marathon, trekking in (£1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10) to 70070 enable someone to do their job without their condition being a barrier. Where work-club Peru. The individual’s page shows how much has been You will receive a text back thanking you for your appropriate, consideration can be given to paying up to 100% of costs of a raised, messages from supporters etc. Supporters can donation and giving you the option to increase it by 25% support worker to help the individual get to and from work. sponsor the person online using a credit or debit card. by signing up for GIFT AID. Finally, tailored Residential Training can be available from one of nine There is also the option to gift aid all donations and You only pay for the cost of the donation, there is no colleges across England for adults with disabilities whose needs cannot be met increase the value of the donation by 25%. www.justgiving.com/headwaybristol charge for the text. through other work related programmes. (continued on page 4)

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(continued from page 3) Access to Work can cover the costs of specialised workplace assessments and contribute towards the cost of any specialised equipment made necessary because of an employee’s A big ‘THANK YOU’ to the condition. It can supply help to following people and groups for enable someone to do their job their personal donations and without their condition being a dedication in raising funds for barrier. Where appropriate, it is AUGUST possible to get up to 100% of costs Headway Bristol - of a support worker to help with Sunday 25th PARTY ON THE CORNER Victoria Jane Hairdressing of The Paddock, Cann Lane, Oldland getting to and from work. Bedminster, Mike Snell, Mrs G Monday 27th LATE SUMMER BANK HOLIDAY Finally, tailored Residential Training Llewellin, Nailsea Methodist Church Service closed can be had at one of nine colleges Women’s Fellowship, John Ewer, Mr L to R Arline Hall, Kate Croucher (Chief Executive, Headway SEPTEMBER & Mrs J R Wilshire, Keynsham & Bristol) & Kayleigh Hall across England for adults with Saturday 1st to 8th SERVICE USERS HOLIDAY disabilities whose needs cannot be Saltford Wine Circle, Keynsham Saalbach, Austria met through other work related Lockeepers Pub Petanque Team, L to R Arline Hall (Conor’s mum), Lis Villotti (campaign Friday 14th HEADWAY BRISTOL GARDEN PARTY Duchess Ladies Club, ACAS, St Annes coordinator) & Kayleigh Hall (Conor’s sister) programmes. th Headway Centre, Frenchay Hospital Park Bowls Club Quiz League, On 18 June Headway Bristol was delighted to The need for any of these services is Friday 28th GRAND SUMMER RAFFLE DRAW Roland Griffin, Merlin & Janet receive a cheque for £7,500 from the Clip Up For Conor Campaign. identified when a jobseeker registers Headway Centre, Frenchay Hospital Wigley, Maureen Chambers, for benefit. An adviser interviews the OCTOBER Michelle Higgins, United Church The campaign was set up in memory of Conor Hall who was just 16 years old when he died. On a evening last summer Conor was riding home on his moped, individual about his or her support Tuesday 9th THE LION KING Longwell Green needs and requirements for Bristol Hippodrome he swerved to avoid two people walking in the road and came off his bike, reasonable adjustments, and suffering a fatal brain injury. Despite major brain surgery and five days on identifies any specific barriers to NOVEMBER the intensive care ward Conor lost his battle for life on 16th June 2011. working, before drawing up a set of Saturday 3rd CHRISTMAS SHOPPING MARKET PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO GIFT AID Conor was wearing a helmet but like many of his friends he was following the agreed actions into a Jobseeker’s Bradbury Hall, Waterford Road, Henleaze YOUR DONATION. IT CAN INCREASE trend of keeping the helmet unclipped. A clipped up helmet may have saved Agreement; signed by the jobseeker. DECEMBER THE VALUE TO US BY UP TO 25% his life. His family and friends are now working tirelessly to raise awareness in If you would like more information Sunday 9th CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE young road users and prevent a tragedy like this happening to another family. about employment support, visit Frenchay Parish Church, Frenchay Common They are asking that “Every time you, your child or a friend puts on a helmet www.direct.gov.uk - or come and Friday 21st SERVICE USERS CHRISTMAS PARTY whether it is on a moped, motorbike, bicycle, scooter or skateboard please look through the employment Stapleton & Begbrook S.C., Frenchay Park Rd remember 'Clip up for Conor'. It’s not cool or fashionable to not clip up your information held in the Resource helmet.” Library at Headway Centre. Monday 24th to Monday 31st CHRISTMAS WEEK Service closed The £7,500 donated to Headway Bristol by the campaign will be used to produce posters, information packs and wallet sized cards with contact details Headway Holidaymakers are a Crafty Bunch! The raffle that was held at and information about our support services. This information will be readily the Headway Bristol Annual available in the family and relative rooms on the Neurology and Intensive Care The Manor House Hotel, in the foothills of Dartmoor National Park, boasts that it offers ‘a break the weather can’t spoil’. wards at Frenchay Hospital. The donation will also part fund the post of our In showery June this year a discerning bunch of Headway Bristol service users and accompanying staff and carers put General Meeting on 11th June raised £64.50. Development Worker who will visit the wards to ensure that families are that claim to a rigorous test. receiving the support that they need. Our group of hardened holidaymakers were attracted to the wide variety of craft and sporting activities offered by the hotel. There are 17 tutored crafts and over 60 indoor and outdoor sports and games available, catering for both adults Grants and donations were received from the following organisations; and children, so The Manor House Hotel really does have something for everyone. And although the hotel building is old and so not fully accessible in some areas, it has good facilities. The restaurant, for example, proved a great hit with our Donations in Memoriam Hospital Saturday Fund, Stella Symons Charitable Trust, Leatherseller’s food critics; especially commended were the puddings and the good selection of fresh vegetables. Company Charitable Trust, Alder King, Good Neighbours Trust, Penelope We would like to extend Gluckstein Charitable Trust, Dame Violet Wills, The Bonus Trust, Renishaw, One of those who went on the holiday, Wayne Lovell, told me about his experiences. The weather had, he admitted, our sincere condolences to Goldmark Trust, Reuben Trust, Pennon Group, Slater Foundation, Rotary Club been pretty wet on some days, but this only served to give the group more chances to try out the indoor sports and the families and friends of; of Bristol, Chatterton Lodge, Verdon Smith Family Trust, Rolls Royce, Waitrose activities. Wayne was really happy with some good scores he achieved in archery and skittles (in which he won a bottle Portishead of wine that he donated to Headway), and in pistol shooting, when nine of his ten shots hit the target! Wayne celebrated Mr Michael Pugh his successes with a pint of Guinness at the bar. Mr John Woodman He was quite impressed, too, with the warmth of the water in the indoor swimming Mr Peter James Hughes Burts Chips raises £2,700 for Headway Bristol pool. But the activity that scored most highly with Wayne was to be found in the Mr Ralph Jeffries Artisan crisp brand, Burts Chips, ran a national on-pack craft centre. Several members of the group took part in the pottery sessions there, Mr Jack Foord initiative on its Salt and Black Pepper crisps for six months and Wayne became totally absorbed casting, among other pieces, a clay tortoise, between November 2011 and April 2012. which he fired in a kiln and later painted. And to thank them for Burts Chips Founder Director Nick Hurst said, “At Burts we I asked Wayne to summarise his view of the holiday in Okehampton. “I enjoyed my their generous donations are very passionate about supporting the local community stay at The Manor House Hotel,” he told me, “and I would definitely go back again.” to Headway Bristol in and so we’re extremely pleased to have raised £2,700 for As Wayne isn’t too easy to impress, his comment is a great compliment for the hotel! memory of their loved Headway Bristol; a fantastic organisation and we hope that Wayne really enjoyed the pottery ones. the money really helps to make a difference”. For information about The Manor House Hotel visit www.manorhousehotel.co.uk sessions!

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