At Shine we believe that all health professionals should recognise the potential for good quality of life. Shine promotes the importance of regular health checks to identify problems and refer for specialist treatment and support. We educate professionals on the management of the complex physical, cognitive and mental health issues that can arise for our members.

Shine offers specialist support to those working in education, including advice and information on assessment strategies and learning environment, SEN support planning, and spotting medical emergencies. We encourage education professionals to assess the unique effects of individual children and young people’s conditions to help them achieve their goals.

Shine is almost entirely funded by the generosity of the general public. Our balloon races make a significant contribution to our funds every year. By sponsoring a balloon you would be helping us to continue to provide the vital services our members urgently need.

We are launching the balloon race from the lakedistrict home of Beatrix Potter. Ms Potter conceived her tale of Peter Rabbit on 4 September 1893 in an illustrated letter to Noel Moore, the five-year-old son of her friend and former governess, Annie Moore. Noel was recovering from a bout of scarlet fever so Potter amused him with a story based upon her real pet rabbit, Peter Piper: 'I don't know what to write to you, so I shall tell you a story about four little rabbits, whose names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter…'Noel's story of Peter Rabbit was to become Potter's first book.