'Me and Dee' Receives A Secret Millionaire's Hand-out
9 March 2010
From left to right: Paul Ragan, Maria Hanson plus family that Me and Dee have helped
Graduating from University was the key to helping me, as a woman with disabilities to offer support and to give to others, plus it gave me confidence and showed me what I was capable of doing with my life
”Maria Hanson
A University of Derby graduate who founded the charity Me and Dee was featured in a new episode of The Secret Millionaire, Channel 4's award winning documentary which went out last night (Tuesday 9 March).
The organisation, set up by Maria Hanson, aims to raise funds to provide trips and gifts for people with life debilitating conditions.
Maria graduated from the University of Derby in 2005 with a 2.1 degree from the BA (Hons) Healing Arts (Joint Honours) programme. During her studies, Maria became an officer for the National Students' Union representing mature, female students, with disabilities. She also set up a club for such students to get together to socialise and share some of the challenges they faced whilst studying.
Maria said: "Graduating from University was the key to helping me, as a woman with disabilities to offer support and to give to others, plus it gave me confidence and showed me what I was capable of doing with my life."
After leaving University, Maria set up Me and Dee, a charity which provides treats such as holidays and special moments where time is precious for individuals who may be disabled or who have rare or untreatable conditions. Maria is only too aware that treats can become the bottom of a priority list in these circumstances.
The charity was set up in 2006 in Ticknall, Derbyshire and is named Me after Maria and Dee after her cousin Delia who died the year before from cancer.
TheSecret Millionaire shows benefactors saying goodbye to their luxury lifestyles to go undercover in deprived areas to find out who needs their help. In the show, business tycoon, multi-millionaire and family man Paul Ragan leaves behind his family and his millions in order to live a life on the breadline as he secretly looked for people to help in Derby.
At the end of 2009 Maria was visited by Paul during his undercover stay in the Derby area. After spending time with Maria as a volunteer and meeting some of the people who rely on Me and Dee, Paul was moved to give a substantial financial gift at the end of his stay in order to help Maria continue her good work.
Watch this episode of The Secret Milionaire
For more information about Me and Dee visit: http://www.meanddee.co.uk
For further media information please contact Alumni Relations Officer Laura Ratcliffe on 01332 591368 or mobile 07768091248 or email l.ratcliffe@derby.ac.uk
