Summer Newsletter
Content
News from the MS Support Centre
MS Support Centre First Voluntary Body to be Commissioned by NHS
In July West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (successor to the Primary Care Trust) announced the commissioning of a new service for people with neurological conditions. The clinical commissioning group has joined forces with the MS Support Centre, based in Chester to offer improved access to its services. The Centre supports people with a range of complex neurological conditions including MS, Parkinsons, ME and others. The services provided include a large scope of therapies including physiotherapy and Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment. The MS Support Centre has qualified healthcare professionals who are able to tailor fitness and exercise programmes to help people whether they have been recently diagnosed or living with a neurological condition for some time. The physiotherapy programme involves both group and one-toone sessions to promote physical stabilisation and improvement whilst complementing and supporting the work of neurologists and GPs. People can also obtain condition specific information from the Centre and speak to health professionals about their individual needs. The project, which is the first of its kind in the country, will be run as a pilot from July 2013 until the end of March 2014. During the project the West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group will meet the costs of membership and treatment for patients who are registered with GPs in the West Cheshire area. Neil Kemsley, Chairman of the MS Support Centre, is delighted that the Centre has been selected. “The project will help people with long term neurological conditions manage their symptoms whilst at the same time reducing the overall costs of such care by reducing the need for people to refer themselves to GPs, consultants or specialist nurses” he explained. “The MS Support Centre has developed a strong reputation for the way in which it helps its members manage their conditions and we are pleased that the West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group wishes to recognise this and open the opportunity up to others who need these services.” Jane Johnston-Cree, Centre Manager at the MS Support Centre said “this pilot represents an exciting opportunity to lay the foundations of a longterm relationship with commissioning groups and will enable the Centre to reach more people in this region. The Centre takes a very pro-active approach in helping people with neurological conditions and we feel that there are a large number of people who could be benefiting from our services.”
Chester Charity Walk Sunday 8th September
This annual event provides a great day out for all! The walk starts and finishes at the Chester Riverside Innovation Centre. The Walk is a gentle Sunday morning stroll, its distance only six miles (and a bit!) and with customary Refreshment Stops en route including the legendary Bacon Butty and Gin and Tonic Stops! Registration for the event costs £10 and involves raising a minimum of £50 sponsorship (All Walkers raising £100 or more will be entered into a Free Draw with the opportunity of winning one of a number of great prizes!). This year we are particularly pleased that the MS Support Centre will be one of the walk’s nominated charities. To take part and raise money for the Centre complete the Registration Form at www.thechestercharitywalk.co.uk/
Directors’ Lunches – Dates for you diary!
The Centre’s next Directors’ Lunches will be held at Chester Racecourse on 14th November and 2nd April. We are currently making plans for our November lunch and will be in touch soon with more details. The lunches provide a great way for businesses to network and act as a thank you from the Centre for all the support that is offered to us by the business community. Some great ideas have come from networking at our Directors’ Lunches including our first Fashion Show which we held in February this year and the Girls’ Nights Out networking opportunities organised by Jo Clancy who meet up every month to meet fellow ladies in business and do a fun activity all while raising money for local charities including the MS Support Centre. Another way to support has come from local computer firm I7 Technologies who ran a special promotion this summer to raise money for the MS Support Centre. In July and August for every Chester based company that took out an Annual IT Support Contract with them, they donated £150 to us. We are very grateful for all your ideas and support –why not join us for lunch in November to see your ideas take shape? To register an interest in attending the lunch contact Katie Roebuck at [email protected]
Auction of Promises
MS Support Centre, Support Worker, Sian Evans is helping to raise funds for the Centre by organising an Auction of Promises in October. The Auction will take place on Friday 11th October at Ruthin Rugby Club. If you have anything that you would like to donate as a raffle prize or an item for the auction, please contact Sian at [email protected]
Forgotten Phones
We are able to recycle mobile phones and turn them into funds for the Centre. If you would like one of our collection boxes for old mobiles, please let us know. There is no cost to an organisation, as all postage is paid.
Redrow Donation will fund Pioneering new MS Therapy
We have now been able to buy revolutionary new equipment thanks to a donation from The Redrow Foundation. A new magnetic resonance stimulation unit is now based at The MS Support Centre following a donation of £3,250 from the national charity founded by Flintshire based Redrow Homes. Neil Kemsley, chairman of the Centre, said: “Research has shown that the application of a pulsating electromagnetic field that matches the earth’s magnetic field can stimulate the body’s cells to produce more energy and enhances the selfhealing powers of the body. It can help to boost an individual’s immune system amongst other benefits, all of which can help them to maintain their physical health and well-being. We all would like to say a massive thank you to The Redrow Foundation for donating the funds to enable us to buy one unit for our members.” Sandy McBride, managing director for Redrow Homes (NW) and sales director Anita Williams, visited the centre to present the cheque. Sandy said: “We are delighted to assist the MS Support Centre in their aim of improving the lives of those with MS and other neurological conditions. The centre’s staff provide a vital service for their members and the magnetic resonance stimulation project is set to improve people’s quality of life further.” MS Support Centre member, Eileen Morgan demonstrating the Magnetic Resonance Stimulation unit to Sandy McBride and Anita Williams The magnetic resonance stimulation unit consists of a computerised control unit, a sound and light relaxation headset system, a whole body mat and additional pillow and applicators for targeting specific pain relief. The recommended use is three to four times a day for eight to 20 minutes per session. Neil added: “Our aim is to make the unit available to as many people as possible at the MS Support Centre so that each individual can trial it for themselves at no cost before committing to purchasing their own home use unit.” The Redrow Foundation is a national charity, founded by Ewloe based housebuilder Redrow Homes, which builds new homes across England and Wales. It provides financial support for the relief of poverty and sickness in the UK and, in particular, to provide accommodation and related assistance, including respite care, especially to children, the elderly and those who are sick or infirm. To date it has contributed circa £450,000 to a wide variety of good causes.
Golf Day Success
Bell Meadow hosted their fourth Annual Charity Golf Day at Helsby Golf Club on Thursday 23rd May in support of the MS Support Centre, Chester. Nineteen teams of four took part in an 18 hole Texas Scramble Competition on the day which raised over £3000 for the MS Support Centre. The winners on the day were Sean Seery, Todd Miller, John Unsworth and Barbara McDonagh from Smith and Sons Property Consultants who won first prize, a day’s clay pigeon shooting at Catton Hall Shooting Ground. The team from BBS (Brick & Stone) Ltd/MJH Masonry of Fraser Young, Keith Rogers, Ivans Geldins and Mike Hutchinson secured second place and won a set of iPod shuffles and a team from Brymau Estates Ltd of Ramsay Lamont, Scott Lamont, Will Webster and Ross Westwood won third prize of a four ball round of golf at Helsby Golf Club. Katie Roebuck, Fundraiser for the MS Support Centre, was delighted with the success of the event “Every year this event gets bigger and better for us. We are very grateful to Stuart Cranfield from Bell Meadow for all his hard work in helping us to organise it. The day provides a really enjoyable networking event for organisations and everyone always looks forward to the day.” Sponsors of the event were Tom Howley Ltd, Morrland Windows, RAD Groundworks and Plant Hire Ltd, and Fergusson Joinery Ltd.
The winning team! Sean Seery, Todd Miller, John Unsworth and Barbara McDonagh from Smith and Sons Property Consultants.
Fund Our Physio Campaign
Physiotherapy is at the heart of everything we do and it can be the difference between reliance on others and independence for our members. Our neurological physiotherapists are fully trained and experienced and they provide a lifeline to people affected by a long term neurological condition. When combined with other fitness and exercise activities, physiotherapy can help to slow down, and in some cases stop, the progression of neurological conditions.
2014 Date – Thursday 22nd May
New Idea - The Giving Machine
Raise money for the MS Support Centre whilst doing your online shopping with over 400 stores! We have registered as a charity to support with www.thegivingmachine.co.uk so the next time you are buying something online just visit the website (www.thegivingmachine.co.uk) and register as a giver before you make your purchase, select the MS Support Centre as your chosen beneficiary and then access the online shops. The MS Support Centre will then receive a free cash donation of 3-5% of your total purchase price at no extra cost to you. Online stores taking page include Ebay, Sainsbury’s, Amazon, Next, M&S, Tesco, Staples, Interflora, Waitrose, John Lewis, Boots, Currys and Viking.
How you can help
Physiotherapy at the MS Support Centre costs around £28,000 per physiotherapist to deliver. We want you to help us raise these funds so that we can carry on making a real difference to the lives of people with a neurological condition. Visit our dedicated Fund our Physio My Donate page and give what you can to really make a difference to our members lives. £15 funds one individual session £25 funds two group sessions £500 funds one week of physio We have already raised nearly £5000 through offline donations and would appreciate your support to help us reach our target. Find out more or donate online at https://mydonate.bt.com/events/fundourphysios
New Equipment Possible Thanks to Chester Lions
Chester Lions have donated funds to enable the MS Support Centre to buy a Podiatry Chair. The recent addition to the MS Support Centre’s equipment has enabled the Centre to expand the range of healthcare services that it can offer to its members. Centre Manager, Jane Johnston-Cree was delighted about the new piece of equipment “Podiatry has long been a service we have wanted to encompass as many of our members have mobility issues which make it difficult to gain access to ‘high-street’ based premises. They also tend to have poor circulation generally, and in their feet in particular, which makes foot care even more important” she explained. The chair will be a multi-use piece of equipment for the Centre. The Centre’s Complimentary Therapists, who provide massage and reflexology, will be able to greatly benefit from the addition of the chair as it will provide a more adjustable and supported position for the member. The Medi-Plinth Electric Phlebotomy Chair is fully adjustable in terms of positioning and has the added benefit of having split legs with foot supports, padded arm rests and a breathing hole, to enable it to be used for a wide range of treatments. The MS Support Centre supports over 300 people with neurological conditions including MS, Parkinson’s and ME and relies on the fundraising efforts of businesses and the community to be able to support and improve its services. “We are most grateful to the Chester Lions for their interest and support in the MS Support Centre. The chair has already been of great benefit to our members” said Jane Johnston-Cree.
Car Charity Challenge
MS Support Centre member, Les Durrant accompanied by his wife, Therese, have embarked on a European adventure to raise money for Parkinson’s UK and the MS Support Centre. The couple are travelling in their 1974 Ford Escort Mark 1 across Europe on a journey which will be over 4000 miles on minor roads, with an average mileage of 250 miles a day. The countries covered will include Wales, England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Luxembourg, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Italy, and Monaco. The couple started their trip from the MS Support Centre on Friday 2nd August, when Centre members and staff, their family and friends and members of the North Wales Classic Car Club gathered to wave them off. “Since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2009, our lives have changed considerably” explained Les Durrant. “Amongst the changes we needed to make to our lives was to our holiday choice. In the past we have done European tours on our motorbikes, where we have visited many countries, on trips often covering around 3000 miles each, but this is now no longer possible. We bought the classic car to replace the bikes and now plan to use this to attempt travelling to 15 countries in 15 days!” The couple are well on the way to raising their target of over £10,000 to be split between the two charities. “Everyone has been so generous, we’ve received donations from organisations as well as individuals and have managed to get towards our target earlier than we thought” said Terese Durrant. Anyone who wishes to sponsor the couple should visit https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/durranteurotour
Contact Us
01244 678619 Find Us on Facebook ms.support.centre and Twitter @mschester
MS Support Centre First Voluntary Body to be Commissioned by NHS
In July West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (successor to the Primary Care Trust) announced the commissioning of a new service for people with neurological conditions. The clinical commissioning group has joined forces with the MS Support Centre, based in Chester to offer improved access to its services. The Centre supports people with a range of complex neurological conditions including MS, Parkinsons, ME and others. The services provided include a large scope of therapies including physiotherapy and Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment. The MS Support Centre has qualified healthcare professionals who are able to tailor fitness and exercise programmes to help people whether they have been recently diagnosed or living with a neurological condition for some time. The physiotherapy programme involves both group and one-toone sessions to promote physical stabilisation and improvement whilst complementing and supporting the work of neurologists and GPs. People can also obtain condition specific information from the Centre and speak to health professionals about their individual needs. The project, which is the first of its kind in the country, will be run as a pilot from July 2013 until the end of March 2014. During the project the West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group will meet the costs of membership and treatment for patients who are registered with GPs in the West Cheshire area. Neil Kemsley, Chairman of the MS Support Centre, is delighted that the Centre has been selected. “The project will help people with long term neurological conditions manage their symptoms whilst at the same time reducing the overall costs of such care by reducing the need for people to refer themselves to GPs, consultants or specialist nurses” he explained. “The MS Support Centre has developed a strong reputation for the way in which it helps its members manage their conditions and we are pleased that the West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group wishes to recognise this and open the opportunity up to others who need these services.” Jane Johnston-Cree, Centre Manager at the MS Support Centre said “this pilot represents an exciting opportunity to lay the foundations of a longterm relationship with commissioning groups and will enable the Centre to reach more people in this region. The Centre takes a very pro-active approach in helping people with neurological conditions and we feel that there are a large number of people who could be benefiting from our services.”
Chester Charity Walk Sunday 8th September
This annual event provides a great day out for all! The walk starts and finishes at the Chester Riverside Innovation Centre. The Walk is a gentle Sunday morning stroll, its distance only six miles (and a bit!) and with customary Refreshment Stops en route including the legendary Bacon Butty and Gin and Tonic Stops! Registration for the event costs £10 and involves raising a minimum of £50 sponsorship (All Walkers raising £100 or more will be entered into a Free Draw with the opportunity of winning one of a number of great prizes!). This year we are particularly pleased that the MS Support Centre will be one of the walk’s nominated charities. To take part and raise money for the Centre complete the Registration Form at www.thechestercharitywalk.co.uk/
Directors’ Lunches – Dates for you diary!
The Centre’s next Directors’ Lunches will be held at Chester Racecourse on 14th November and 2nd April. We are currently making plans for our November lunch and will be in touch soon with more details. The lunches provide a great way for businesses to network and act as a thank you from the Centre for all the support that is offered to us by the business community. Some great ideas have come from networking at our Directors’ Lunches including our first Fashion Show which we held in February this year and the Girls’ Nights Out networking opportunities organised by Jo Clancy who meet up every month to meet fellow ladies in business and do a fun activity all while raising money for local charities including the MS Support Centre. Another way to support has come from local computer firm I7 Technologies who ran a special promotion this summer to raise money for the MS Support Centre. In July and August for every Chester based company that took out an Annual IT Support Contract with them, they donated £150 to us. We are very grateful for all your ideas and support –why not join us for lunch in November to see your ideas take shape? To register an interest in attending the lunch contact Katie Roebuck at [email protected]
Auction of Promises
MS Support Centre, Support Worker, Sian Evans is helping to raise funds for the Centre by organising an Auction of Promises in October. The Auction will take place on Friday 11th October at Ruthin Rugby Club. If you have anything that you would like to donate as a raffle prize or an item for the auction, please contact Sian at [email protected]
Forgotten Phones
We are able to recycle mobile phones and turn them into funds for the Centre. If you would like one of our collection boxes for old mobiles, please let us know. There is no cost to an organisation, as all postage is paid.
Redrow Donation will fund Pioneering new MS Therapy
We have now been able to buy revolutionary new equipment thanks to a donation from The Redrow Foundation. A new magnetic resonance stimulation unit is now based at The MS Support Centre following a donation of £3,250 from the national charity founded by Flintshire based Redrow Homes. Neil Kemsley, chairman of the Centre, said: “Research has shown that the application of a pulsating electromagnetic field that matches the earth’s magnetic field can stimulate the body’s cells to produce more energy and enhances the selfhealing powers of the body. It can help to boost an individual’s immune system amongst other benefits, all of which can help them to maintain their physical health and well-being. We all would like to say a massive thank you to The Redrow Foundation for donating the funds to enable us to buy one unit for our members.” Sandy McBride, managing director for Redrow Homes (NW) and sales director Anita Williams, visited the centre to present the cheque. Sandy said: “We are delighted to assist the MS Support Centre in their aim of improving the lives of those with MS and other neurological conditions. The centre’s staff provide a vital service for their members and the magnetic resonance stimulation project is set to improve people’s quality of life further.” MS Support Centre member, Eileen Morgan demonstrating the Magnetic Resonance Stimulation unit to Sandy McBride and Anita Williams The magnetic resonance stimulation unit consists of a computerised control unit, a sound and light relaxation headset system, a whole body mat and additional pillow and applicators for targeting specific pain relief. The recommended use is three to four times a day for eight to 20 minutes per session. Neil added: “Our aim is to make the unit available to as many people as possible at the MS Support Centre so that each individual can trial it for themselves at no cost before committing to purchasing their own home use unit.” The Redrow Foundation is a national charity, founded by Ewloe based housebuilder Redrow Homes, which builds new homes across England and Wales. It provides financial support for the relief of poverty and sickness in the UK and, in particular, to provide accommodation and related assistance, including respite care, especially to children, the elderly and those who are sick or infirm. To date it has contributed circa £450,000 to a wide variety of good causes.
Golf Day Success
Bell Meadow hosted their fourth Annual Charity Golf Day at Helsby Golf Club on Thursday 23rd May in support of the MS Support Centre, Chester. Nineteen teams of four took part in an 18 hole Texas Scramble Competition on the day which raised over £3000 for the MS Support Centre. The winners on the day were Sean Seery, Todd Miller, John Unsworth and Barbara McDonagh from Smith and Sons Property Consultants who won first prize, a day’s clay pigeon shooting at Catton Hall Shooting Ground. The team from BBS (Brick & Stone) Ltd/MJH Masonry of Fraser Young, Keith Rogers, Ivans Geldins and Mike Hutchinson secured second place and won a set of iPod shuffles and a team from Brymau Estates Ltd of Ramsay Lamont, Scott Lamont, Will Webster and Ross Westwood won third prize of a four ball round of golf at Helsby Golf Club. Katie Roebuck, Fundraiser for the MS Support Centre, was delighted with the success of the event “Every year this event gets bigger and better for us. We are very grateful to Stuart Cranfield from Bell Meadow for all his hard work in helping us to organise it. The day provides a really enjoyable networking event for organisations and everyone always looks forward to the day.” Sponsors of the event were Tom Howley Ltd, Morrland Windows, RAD Groundworks and Plant Hire Ltd, and Fergusson Joinery Ltd.
The winning team! Sean Seery, Todd Miller, John Unsworth and Barbara McDonagh from Smith and Sons Property Consultants.
Fund Our Physio Campaign
Physiotherapy is at the heart of everything we do and it can be the difference between reliance on others and independence for our members. Our neurological physiotherapists are fully trained and experienced and they provide a lifeline to people affected by a long term neurological condition. When combined with other fitness and exercise activities, physiotherapy can help to slow down, and in some cases stop, the progression of neurological conditions.
2014 Date – Thursday 22nd May
New Idea - The Giving Machine
Raise money for the MS Support Centre whilst doing your online shopping with over 400 stores! We have registered as a charity to support with www.thegivingmachine.co.uk so the next time you are buying something online just visit the website (www.thegivingmachine.co.uk) and register as a giver before you make your purchase, select the MS Support Centre as your chosen beneficiary and then access the online shops. The MS Support Centre will then receive a free cash donation of 3-5% of your total purchase price at no extra cost to you. Online stores taking page include Ebay, Sainsbury’s, Amazon, Next, M&S, Tesco, Staples, Interflora, Waitrose, John Lewis, Boots, Currys and Viking.
How you can help
Physiotherapy at the MS Support Centre costs around £28,000 per physiotherapist to deliver. We want you to help us raise these funds so that we can carry on making a real difference to the lives of people with a neurological condition. Visit our dedicated Fund our Physio My Donate page and give what you can to really make a difference to our members lives. £15 funds one individual session £25 funds two group sessions £500 funds one week of physio We have already raised nearly £5000 through offline donations and would appreciate your support to help us reach our target. Find out more or donate online at https://mydonate.bt.com/events/fundourphysios
New Equipment Possible Thanks to Chester Lions
Chester Lions have donated funds to enable the MS Support Centre to buy a Podiatry Chair. The recent addition to the MS Support Centre’s equipment has enabled the Centre to expand the range of healthcare services that it can offer to its members. Centre Manager, Jane Johnston-Cree was delighted about the new piece of equipment “Podiatry has long been a service we have wanted to encompass as many of our members have mobility issues which make it difficult to gain access to ‘high-street’ based premises. They also tend to have poor circulation generally, and in their feet in particular, which makes foot care even more important” she explained. The chair will be a multi-use piece of equipment for the Centre. The Centre’s Complimentary Therapists, who provide massage and reflexology, will be able to greatly benefit from the addition of the chair as it will provide a more adjustable and supported position for the member. The Medi-Plinth Electric Phlebotomy Chair is fully adjustable in terms of positioning and has the added benefit of having split legs with foot supports, padded arm rests and a breathing hole, to enable it to be used for a wide range of treatments. The MS Support Centre supports over 300 people with neurological conditions including MS, Parkinson’s and ME and relies on the fundraising efforts of businesses and the community to be able to support and improve its services. “We are most grateful to the Chester Lions for their interest and support in the MS Support Centre. The chair has already been of great benefit to our members” said Jane Johnston-Cree.
Car Charity Challenge
MS Support Centre member, Les Durrant accompanied by his wife, Therese, have embarked on a European adventure to raise money for Parkinson’s UK and the MS Support Centre. The couple are travelling in their 1974 Ford Escort Mark 1 across Europe on a journey which will be over 4000 miles on minor roads, with an average mileage of 250 miles a day. The countries covered will include Wales, England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Luxembourg, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Italy, and Monaco. The couple started their trip from the MS Support Centre on Friday 2nd August, when Centre members and staff, their family and friends and members of the North Wales Classic Car Club gathered to wave them off. “Since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2009, our lives have changed considerably” explained Les Durrant. “Amongst the changes we needed to make to our lives was to our holiday choice. In the past we have done European tours on our motorbikes, where we have visited many countries, on trips often covering around 3000 miles each, but this is now no longer possible. We bought the classic car to replace the bikes and now plan to use this to attempt travelling to 15 countries in 15 days!” The couple are well on the way to raising their target of over £10,000 to be split between the two charities. “Everyone has been so generous, we’ve received donations from organisations as well as individuals and have managed to get towards our target earlier than we thought” said Terese Durrant. Anyone who wishes to sponsor the couple should visit https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/durranteurotour
Contact Us
01244 678619 Find Us on Facebook ms.support.centre and Twitter @mschester
