Newsletter

Newsletter No 70 - April 2008

OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ARE THOSE OF THE CONTRIBUTORS AND NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE M.S. THERAPY CENTRE.

Note from the Editor

Hello everyone,
I hope that by the time you read this newsletter the weather will have become a little more spring-like than it is as I type, i.e. very cold with snow showers and relentless north-easterly winds. Oh, and did I mention the rain?

Thank you to those of you who have supplied articles for this edition. I would like to thank Janet Willis for her regular supply of medical items. Stella Edwards is trying to drum up support for participation in collecting days or bringing in everyday items for use at the centre, Thanks to those who regularly ensure their support. Please do not lose sight of the fact that we are starting the year with a financial deficit of over £17,000! That's an extra £1,400 per month we need to raise this year just to make up the shortfall. (see January's newsletter). We need everybody's input and support throughout the year.

Regards, Ruth Moult, Editor.
ruth.mstherapy@live.co.uk - for any newsletter matters.

Closing date for July's newsletter is: FRIDAY 20TH JUNE. I am away for some of July so don't leave items too late.

CHAIRMAN’S CHAT
Hopefully, when you read this winter will be a memory, and we can all look forward to the spring and the events which have been or will be arranged for us to enjoy, as well as raising funds for our centre. I hope that many of you will attend the cricket match at Backwell as well as the many other events planned. Posters will be displayed at the centre for your information.

As many of you will realise some of the staff at the centre are not getting any younger and consequently we can expect some retirements. With any organisation there comes a time when one generation has to step aside to allow another generation to take the reins. As chairman of the trustees I take the ultimate responsibility in organising replacement staff, with the help of the committee, and we now have a centre, which, I think, is providing a very high standard of care to our members. However, the future of the centre is very much down to you, the members, to help to secure the necessary expertise to continue. The centre desperately requires people with the commitment to assist on the committee, especially to take responsibility for fund-raising. Please, tackle your friends and relatives who may have skills to bring to the centre, I shall be delighted to speak to any person who would seriously consider joining the committee.

Plans to build the new centre at Bradley Stoke are still making progress, approximately £500,000 has now been pledged or collected and plans are being finalised with the architects to obtain the necessary permissions from the local authority. Once these plans have been re-drawn I will make arrangements for them to be displayed at Nailsea.
I did ask in an earlier “chat” for any suggestions for any visits or excursions members might wish to have arranged. I am still open to ideas.
If any member has any ideas for improving the facilities or services we offer at the centre please see Val in the office or leave a note for me. All suggestions, (provided they are legal or physically possible), will be considered.

Regards
Peter

A note from your committee member Stella Edwards.

I was thinking of writing an article for the newsletter but I'm sure the people I want to read it or need to read it won't even bother!! But what the hell lets write it anyway and see if anything changes. I have been using this wonderful centre for nearly 23 years and have tried to support it in all that time in various ways. However there are some people for reasons best known to themselves who never or rarely do anything at all. Now I am of course very aware that for a few people life is extremely difficult and almost impossible but even they must have friends or relatives who might be able to help in some small way. It's the small things which are easiest to do which build up to the whole picture and ensure that this fantastic centre keeps on providing the care and support which it does. Sooooo what can you do? This centre needs £200,000 pounds per year to continue. The donations people make for their treatment do not cover the actual cost, so any additional amount you can afford will assist with this deficit.

The Centre uses tea, coffee, toilet paper, cleaning products, biscuits, rolls, stamps, sugar to name but a few items, so, instead of just giving at Harvest Festival, which we have done successfully for the past two years, you could ensure the supplies continue throughout the year and that we do not have to use any funds for these supplies. Or what about spending a few hours collecting at Supermarkets? Some people find this embarrassing, demeaning or begging. Nothing could be further from the truth. Your meet such lovely people. So if you can be persuaded but feel shy, ask to do it with one of the people who usually do it to gain some confidence. These collections used to form a large portion of our yearly income but to date this year we have only collected just over £1500. There is pressure on all charities these days so all the more reason to support this charity for our benefit. I am sure you will be able to think of many ways of raising money.
But raise money we must if we want to keep all the services we provide at the current level.
Stella Edwards - Committee
DON’T FORGET THE CLOSING DATE FOR NEXT NEWSLETTER IS FRIDAY 20TH JUNE.

Have you ever suffered from Trigeminal Neuralgia?
I HAVE AND IT HURTS – REALLY HURTS!
I had my first attack about three years ago. At first I thought I had toothache. I went to the dentist and had a perfectly good tooth out- against my dentist's wishes, but it hurt so much I just wanted it out. After a few days the pain hadn't gone. Luckily I had an appointment with Dr Ferguson at Southmead Hospital and I asked him about it.

He said it was Trigeminal Neuralgia. He gave me a prescription for some tablets and sent me packing. It finally went, but I didn't like the side-effects of the tablets (Gabepentin). They made it harder to walk or do anything. About a year later it all returned with a vengence. I found it hard to eat or drink. I lost weight but carried on with the tablets. Eventually it went again, but returned again. But one Monday morning during my 10.30am hyperbaric oxygen session my luck changed. I was talking about my neuralgia when one of my fellow „divers' told me that she had had it and went to a chiropractor. She did something inside her mouth and has never had the neuralgia back.

So when I got home I rang up this Chiropractor (Nina at Vital Health, North View, Westbury Park, Bristol) and made an appointment. I saw Nina on the Thursday and after the first appointment I felt immediate relief. I have had five appointments so far and not had an attack. I still get odd twinges but nothing like before.
Why does it take something like my odd comment to a fellow M.S.er to find relief from using alternative treatment?
So if you suffer from it, get help from a chiropractor. I feel so much better and people from the M.S. Centre said I look better and smile more.

For further help ring Vital Health on 0117 9730878 and ask for Nina.
You won't regret it.
Val Bonham.

Thanks for relaying this interesting experience to us Val. It just goes to show how important our M.S. Centre is. We learn far more from others who have had similar experiences than from any consultant don’t we? Ed.

COLLECTIONS
SO FAR THIS YEAR WE HAVE COLLECTED A GRAND TOTAL OF £1,498.05

A big THANK YOU to everyone for your hard work and effort in helping to raise this money.

Coming up …
The following dates are booked, so why not make a note of one close by to you, and if you can spare a couple of hours, just add your name to the time sheet on the main notice board, then try to persuade friends and family to help too!

IMPORTANT NOTICE
We need special help with both the collections taking place in May at the Mall and at Cadbury Garden Centre. If you are able to help please write your name down on the time sheet on the main board. Thank-you!

The Channel Crossing Challenge

This year we are planning a new event over the Severn Bridge. There will still be runners, walkers and wheelers as in previous years but we would like to make it more fun. Remember your school games days and imagine going over the bridge carrying an egg and spoon, or tied to a friend in a three legged race! Jugglers, stilt walkers and uni-cyclers are all invited! There will be prizes for the most inventive way of getting over and back, childrens fancy dress and fancy dress.

This event will take place on 10th August 2008. Starting at 11.00am. The meeting point will be Aust Services. Please come and join us for this fun event. For more details please see the next issue or check on here on the Fund Raising page.

In Memory

It is with sadness that we report the death of Stephanie Saunders who passed away on 21st February of this year. Our sympathies are with her friends and family at this time.

Cotswold Edge Golf Club

Hi everyone
I am Michelle Craker and this year I am Lady Captain of Cotswold Edge Golf Club. Some of you may already know me, or more likely my husband Simon who has run golf days for the MS Centre for many years now. At our Club we have three sections, each captained by a different member. The Main Club Captain is Tony Mansfield and the Senior Section is led by Dennis Arney. Each year the Club selects a Charity to support alongside our usual fund-raising efforts needed to run our own sections. The three of us will this year be pulling our sections and the club in general together to raise money for the MS Centre in Nailsea.

We'll be doing lots of things, including raffles, Captains Drive-ins, fun events, collection boxes, receiving donations and of course our main event of the year, the Pro-am Competition. The Pro-am is a huge day in any clubs calendar. This year's event is taking place on Tuesday 15th July. It is run by the South West Professional Golf Association in conjunction with the Club and involves a Professional golfer playing alongside three amateurs in a team who pay a lot of money to enter. As well as being an important part of the Professionals personal golfing schedule the event is the main fund-raiser for charity and involves many months of preparation in advance and lots of hard work on the day - all by volunteers.

Last week Peter Miller came along to talk about your centre to our Pro-am Committee and explained the work done there. We also explained how the Pro-am day runs, what we do and what we hope you will be able to help us with. In advance we need to sell as many raffle tickets as possible, and on the day we need some volunteers who would be willing to come up and spend the day (on a rota!!) with us to make your presence felt. The Charity usually hands out mementos of the day on the 18th green to players finishing the course; sells raffle tickets in the clubhouse and helps with refreshments on the course. Some of you will remember and indeed have helped out in our “caravan”! Well, we now have a super-dooper halfway house - a lovely cabin with all mod-cons - that we use to provide hot and cold drinks and snacks. So, above are some of the ways we hope that you will be able to help us make July 15th as successful and profitable as possible for you. It will be great to see you there and all three of us, Tony, Dennis and myself, look forward to welcoming you. Personally, I am delighted to continue my family's link with you.
__________________________________________________
Many thanks again to Oce Graphics at Rolls Royce, Bristol for the printing of this newsletter.

Take careful note this Silent Auction event – if you have any items that could be donated, please telephone to have them collected.
P.S. I have persuaded my husband to offer gardening services for half a day (or ironing if the weather is bad?!)
Ed.

SHORT STORY
I thought it would be fun to include a short story page in our newsletter – just so that it isn't all M.S. stuff. If you have any stories or poems you would like to include, please pass to me for future editions. I hope you like my first attempt at putting myself into someone (?) else's shoes:
View from an Alien Perspective
By Ruth Moult.

I am an unknown being from a planet called Zozo, a name which is short for an unbelievably technically-named organisational probus. I knew that today I would land on your earth and so decided it was time to learn your language and everything, about your lifestyle, or so I thought.

My equivalent to your „internet is Zozosphere which quickly taught me how to speak to you and how you live your life.
I narrowed down my search to England and finally to Devon. So, I programmed Socrates, my spaceship, to land close to place called Dartmouth.

I landed in a green area with trees and open areas and boldly opened the door anticipating seeing a „housing estate. I had to instantly withdraw back into Socrates as I was met by an image of little metal pods imitating spacecraft and staring at me with huge, disproportionate eyes. Each seemed to have a catheter attached near the evacuation end of the beast.

My fascination was growing. Had Zozosphere let me down in the description of your domestic life? All around the metal pods, which by now were starting to crack open, were mutants of them, still with a soft outer layer and zip-like markings. These were, judging by the difference in colour, of various stages of development and some had hideous growths attached. These mutants were, fortunately, tied securely to the ground.

Then, suddenly I saw the most horrific sight. There was an earthling, and what he was doing was awful! He was dragging along plastic containers, things that I had assumed were catheters, and filling them up with gushing clear liquid from a stick in the ground! I knew that I had to engage him in conversation.

The one I approached first was a he-earthling and to my horror, was only partly clothed. He was very cheery and was making pleasant sounds from pursed lips. I startled him by blipping pleasantly, but I now had his attention. He sealed the catheter to my relief, stood it up and asked if he could be of any help. He had already noticed Socrates and said he assumed I had come in “that marvellous machine”. I decided I quite liked this he-earthling. He then asked me how much I had to pay to pitch it here. I was confused, why would I have to contribute to being in such a non-earthling environment? I replied that I didn't know what he meant, and he obviously felt sorry for me because he kindly suggested I should walk with him.

I followed him, passing the mutants which now had terrible scars and open wounds, lose skin flapping in the breeze. There were now earthlings everywhere doing strange things. My shock must have shown for the he-earthling took my arm and pointed “You need to speak to Sam and Mary, they are the site wardens and are very helpful –and by the way, would you mind if I came and took a look at your fascinating caravan later?”.

If you have any literary pieces you would like to share with us, either leave in the tray at the Centre, or email to me at ruth.mstherapy@live.co.uk

Thanks, Ruth.

The Good news!
Our two Hoffnung evenings brought in £1000 in overall … and everyone had an excellent evening.

Emerging news!
An apparent lack of interest amongst the business community, who we had hoped would have supported this event as part of their „staff development programmes has meant that the April Firewalk has been postponed and will now be held at the Nailsea & Backwell Rugby Club on Friday 26th September with the aim of attracting individual participants as before. We already have several bold people ready to sign up – why not ask your friends to join them? Information and sponsor forms are available from the office.
What else is planned?
Monday 9th June – Golf Day at Mendip Spring
This is one of our major fundraising events. For many years Simon Craker has masterminded this Golf Day, which not only brings in a lot of money to the Centre but also offers teams of four people a very good day‟s golf. Simon's business contacts in the finance profession always provide the backbone of the entries but we are continually looking for more to add to the occasion.
Sunday 13th July – Classic Bike Ride
Karen and Ivor Marsh have organised this event for several years in support of Rita Rawlings, her mother, who died earlier this year. Karen and Ivor are now living very happily in France but are planning this year‟s ride as a special memorial to Rita.
Friday 17th July – Lashings Cricket match at Flax Bourton
This promises to be something VERY BIG for us!
The Lashings World XI are a host of international superstars, who play local clubs for charity. Backwell Flax Bourton CC are kindly promoting this match on our behalf and we hope to raise a very large sum of money, thanks in no small measure to the generosity of Steve Lansdown and the hard work and enthusiasm of David Lloyd – both Backwell Flax Bourton cricketer and friend of the Centre. Much more information will be available nearer the time, but we hope to have an enormous crowd of spectators and to promote the Centre to all and sundry on the day. We will need lots of help!!

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