Artist donates work to new art wall at rehabilitation centre
A new art wall has been unveiled at the West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre (WMRC) thanks to a donation of artwork to BCHC Charity from local artist Sairah Din.
The art wall is the third to be introduced within Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) NHS Foundation Trust as part of BCHC Charity’s Arts & Culture in Health scheme, which aimed to encourage patient engagement and therapy through arts activities, as well as brighten spaces with beautiful works of art.
The wall was unveiled as part of a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Event at the centre, designed to highlight patients’ stories and raise awareness of the impact of the condition, focussing on the experiences of those who live with MS.
One of Sairah’s pieces is the first to be hung on the wall, a true testament to the therapeutic power of art in healthcare.
Sairah, a 56-year-old mother of two, was diagnosed with primary-progressive MS in 2008.
An ex-primary school teacher who loved gardening, travelling, and DIY, her life drastically changed following her diagnosis.
In early 2024, she took up painting to strengthen her hands.
Sairah said: “My hands and arms had become so weak I could barely hold a spoon to feed myself. It was then I decided I needed to do something.”
A friend gave Sairah some painting supplies, suggesting it might help to strengthen her hands and arms.
She continued: “I picked up the brush with two hands and started dabbing the paints on the canvas. I loved the process so much. I could do something! I painted more and more… I cannot describe the impact it had on me mentally.
“I found a new lease of life. My arms are getting stronger, and I am doing something that will make my children proud of me.”
“I want to share my story to raise awareness, not just of the challenges I’ve faced, but of the powerful impact that creative activity, art, and music as therapy has had on my life, my health, and my wellbeing. MS is part of me but it’s not in charge of me.”
To make a donation of art for one of the charity’s art walls, contact the Charity Team at [email protected].
