Alison hands in 4,000 strong campaign petition to Downing Street
10:07am Wednesday 8th October 2008
A COURAGEOUS mother’s year-long campaign to save the lives of those suffering from alcohol addiction culminated at Downing Street yesterday.
Alison Dixon teamed up with the Crewe and Nantwich Guardians last October to launch the campaign ‘Alcoholism: Dying for a Drink!’ to highlight the devastating impact of the disease and the crippling lack of resources for sufferers.
Alison, aged 60, from Sandbach, lost her youngest son, Oliver, on September 16, 2005 when he took his life at the age of 26.
Oliver, who had Autistic Spectrum Disorder, began drinking several years before his death.
On the day he died, his mobile phone records show he had been desperately trying to reach his counsellor at Central Cheshire Alcohol Services on Edleston Road.
Tragically, the office was closed as there were insufficient funds to pay someone to take calls while counsellors received training.
Now, 12 months and more than 4,000 signatures since the launch of the campaign, Alison and her team of supporters handed in the petition at Number 10 urging the Government to increase funding for people with alcohol-related problems.
Alison said: “People with autism are twice as likely to become addicted to alcohol and drugs due to the need they feel to fit in with society and to cope.
“Oliver was very caring in many respects and cared more about other people than he did about himself.
“He was very funny and witty, intensely loyal and honourable. He was a brilliant mimic and absolutely loved books and words.
“Whatever I have to do is a small price to pay for Oliver's life and for all those people out there who are asking for help and not getting it.”
She added: “Handing in the petition was such a momentous occasion. I feel elated that the campaign has achieved such a significant number of signatures and I am so grateful to everybody.
“This campaign is going to help make a difference to the lives of people who are suffering from alcoholism and who desperately need help to free them from their addiction.
“I hope this is just the start and that the Government will have cross party discussions to ensure that appropriate and principled action is taken and sustainable funding is put in place to provide the services that people desperately need.”
Alison now plans to take her crusade into schools across Cheshire, speaking to youngsters about the dangers of alcohol.
Shadow health minister Stephen O’Brien, MP, who accompanied Alison to deliver the petition, said: “This is such an important campaign to get a focus and awareness about all the needs of people who suffer from alcohol-related diseases and social conditions.
“I think taking this to Downing Street and making sure the Government tackles these problems head-on is really important for the people of Cheshire and I admire and salute the campaign group headed by Alison Dixon.”
Sylvia Sweeney, aged 68 of Catherine Street in Crewe, was one of the volunteers helping collect signatures in street petitions and joined Alison at Downing Street.
She added: “People do need and want help. My son, Nicholas, was 36 when he took his life last January through drink and drugs. He was a very clever boy but like so many others he didn’t get the help that he wanted.
“I hope this campaign will work. We have worked very hard and came to Downing Street to ask for help and I hope that we get it so people won’t have to suffer the same sorrow that we and lots of other people have suffered.”