Cressroads' ambassador for disabled invited to ice Spanish resort's 21st birthday cake

Why is not a question.

But arrangements are put in place for the Continuing Story of Cressroads to spark the launch of Ross Smith’s travel-writing career wearing a New Year’s Eve line in traditional red Spanish underwear;

Eating a dozen grapes in tune with each next broadcast chime of the distant clock of Madrid’s Casa de Correos;

And raising a glass of sparkling Catalonian cava champagne to toast the arrival of AD 2011 at www.marysol.org Los Cristianos, Tenerife.

Until all Ross most wants in time for next Christmas is a Parker’s bath to call his own as a consequence of a chance conversation that bent a millionaire Hampshire yacht builder’s ear into putting his talents to work on the creation of a much-needed design of a tub for use by the disabled as well as elderly.

‘Ross Smith has cerebral palsy, but he does not suffer from it,’ writes the Alton Herald’s Sheila Checkley.

‘This is something he makes very clear to the people he meets for the first time; and, for a man who lives his life from a wheelchair, he has lived more life in his 27 years than most of his contemporaries.

‘True, he needs a full-time carer, who shares his adapted bungalow in Oakhanger on a two-week-shift rota. But Ross’s energy and determination not to be different, not to allow his disability to stop him, keep him driven.

'Ross has a five-every-morning beginning to a hectic schedule of presentations, lectures, consultancy as well as voluntary-advocacy work to help other disabled people through the tangle of the benefits scheme and their endless housing problems.’

In a 10-word headline, the Alton journalist adds: ‘Disability is no barrier to Ross’s busy and fulfilled life.’

Ross is invited to Mar-y-Sol on the Spanish island of Tenerife to appraise the success of an executive of a German energy company, who resigned to take a leap of faith and create a no-barrier holiday resort for the disabled and their families.

After he noted the marked benefit the climate of the small fishing village of Los Cristianos had on the condition of his wife, suffering from multiple sclerosis, and for him to have persevered with the project in the years since her death.

Until next year is the 21st birthday of his Mar-y-Sol. Barrier-free. And acclaimed as Europe’s first hotel, perhaps the world’s, to be designed as wheelchair accessible throughout.

Renate Kraus, who leads the resort’s management team, tells Ross: “We meet the highest standards expected of a quality resort hotel for the disabled and elderly. Continuing to develop and further improve a relaxing as well as lively holiday environment for the disabled and able-bodied.

“We seek to welcome all of our guests with understanding and sensitivity into a holiday atmosphere that is special, familiar and friendly.

“Wanting them to feel completely at home with us – and for them to want to choose, again and again, to return to Mar-y-Sol for their holidays.” – www.blogsbody.com

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here