Amputees will benefit from a tag day held by one of the Island's newest charities.

The Amputee Association became a registered charity in February and is holding its first tag day today.

Dauphine Dickerson is the secretary of the charity and has been an amputee since 1980. Part of her leg was removed as a result of Neurofibroma tumours, a disease which attacks the nervous system.

She estimates there are 200 amputees in Bermuda as a result of road accidents and a variety of diseases including diabetes.

Prior to being registered as a charity the Amputee Association had been working for years to help amputees and provide support networks.

"In the beginning it can be very hard and people can be angry," she said. "But it gets easier with time and through talking with others who are in a similar situation.

"We have a support group and it has been a tremendous help to people. We meet every second week and discuss issues we are facing.

"Also prosthetics have come a long way over the years, the quality has improved."

Currently there is no one on the Island who makes or fits prosthetics so a doctor from Toronto comes to the Island every six weeks.

They hope that the money raised will help cover some of the costs involved in obtaining prosthetic limbs for people without health insurance.

Mrs. Dickerson's son, Makai, is a member of the youth wing of the PLP and has organised Open Mic nights for the Premier.

He said that Dr. Ewart Brown was interested in the Amputee Association's activities and wanted to contribute to their first tag day before he left for a tourism summit in China, so he pre-arranged to buy the first tag.

The charity will be outside of grocery stores and banks today and tomorrow. For more information contact amputeebda[AT]yahoo.com or social worker Colleen English at the hospital.