Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland
AYRSHIRE & ARRAN BRANCH
Registered Charity Number SCO41990
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Claire McGreevy from Troon, Donald McNeill OBE,  MS Branch Chairman and Claire's Mum, present Prof Charles Ffrench Constant, University of Edinburgh with a cheque for £35,000 towards his department's work.
KILWINNING CARNIVAL

The Branch took part in the festivities in the Main Street once again this year,
with our Resource Centre offering a variety of items for sale, along with
hair braiding, face painting, an information stall and a tombola. We were pleased
to see many friends and supporters - both old and new - dropping in to say hello.
Thanks to all who supported us, the day raised £130 for Branch funds.

MRS JEAN BOYD

Mrs Jean Boyd from Barmill died recently and at her funeral her family
and friends donated £1,500.00 to go to the MS Ayrshire & Arran Branch.
George McLachlan our chairperson and Harry Travers oursecretary
collected the cheque from husband Tom Boyd and Harry also
collected a Wee Dram as well!!! Cheers Tom, take care and God Bless.

UK MS REGISTER PILOT LAUNCHED.

Below is a transcript of Sue Polson's Speech at 'Our Dynamic Earth'

Ladies & Gentlemen

Don’t you feel MS registers are a bit like buses:   you wait for decades and,
lo and behold, two come along at once!

Now, a quick definition from the dictionary for those who are only pretending
they know the difference between incidence and prevalence!  Incidence is the degree, extent or frequency of occurrence, in other words how many new cases arise in a given timespan.  Prevalence is the total number of people with a disease at any one time in a particular population.  So now you know!

One of the many benefits of being a member of the MS Society’s Research
Network is to be part of an ongoing research project funded by the Society. 
I am unashamedly proud to have been part of the Scottish incidence Register
from day one when we were really fortunate to appoint Claire Kennett to the post of Manager of the project.  Patients and carers (many of whom are fellow members
of the Research Network) have played a part in that development in either the Steering Group or Reference Group.  We watched the twists and turns, the
highs and lows of that new venture and were delighted when the launch took
place, supported by the Scottish Government.  The fact that the Scottish Register
is now being run, safely and successfully embedded within the NHS with its
expertise in registers, is another reason to be proud as this arrangement is very unusual.  

For the NHS to work in tandem with a charity would seem to many to be logical
and the right thing to do, but it is not as easy to achieve as it should be. 
Achieve it we did, however, and with Anita Pritchard at the helm, we saw the
very first data produced. Exciting in itself,  but if we think of the future benefits
to service providers and researchers, then the importance of this Scottish
Register is obvious.  We look forward to the continuous mapping of new cases
in the different health areas of Scotland and further developments of the Register
to come.

And here we are, celebrating the pilot of a prevalence Register UK-wide. 
A different kettle of fish that will involve every person with MS should they so
wish.  We know it will take time to evolve and that means being patient, but eventually, if all goes well, pwMS will have had the opportunity to record their
own MS journey and will have contributed to research in the future.  Just the
very act of registering and completing the questionnaires, mapping the version
of MS we live with, day in and day out, means we are becoming part of a
research project.  Hopefully this will bring a huge change to the way our disease
is treated by Health authorities and Government bodies in the future.  Putting
yourself on the map gives recognition to a disease which many, and I include the patients in that, find difficult to understand. 

One future benefit really stands out for me.  pwMS are always eager to step
forward as volunteers in clinical trials or, as one researcher said to me “they
will throw themselves at anything that has even a glimmer of hope, however risky”.  This is highlighted by the number of people who decide, in desperation, to travel abroad to buy unauthorised and unproven stem cell treatments.  By mapping the clinical details of patients willing to take part in trials, the UK Register should be
able to provide researchers with quicker access to candidates who meet the
right criteria, thus saving considerable time, effort and money.  And, believe me, Ladies and Gentlemen, we desperately need to save every single day possible
out of the years that it presently takes to translate successful research outcomes
into treatments in the clinic.

The Swansea team deserve our best wishes for the success of the pilot because
I know how much work is ahead of them!  I hope all their problems are little ones.

To my fellow MS patients - it’s up to you to get on with it - register online – I’ve
done it and it’s very easy.  Don’t just sit there and mutter that noone’s doing
anything and research is too slow anyway, get involved and help to shape the
future for generations to come.  This new project cannot happen without you. 
Being involved with research for the last nine years has helped me beyond
measure, so put your MS on the map and begin to be part of MS research.

Thank you.


STEPHANIE'S CAKE BREAK TAKES THE BISCUIT!

A 'Cake Break' in Kilwinning Library on Saturday 7th May was very well attended with one room being turned into a "tea room" with a great choice of cakes : empire biscuits, swiss rolls, flapjacks, pancakes (french ones and scottish ones), chocolate cakes, cup cakes, tablet, rocky road cakes, and more. Tea and coffee were offered by the library.

Organiser Stephanie Krus would like to thanks everyone who helped either on the day or beforehand, from baking, to serving, preparing, passing on the information, putting up posters or simply by coming and eating the cakes! Thanks to you, the day raised around £300 for MS Ayrshire & Arran. All who attended had a good time and enjoyed the many cakes!

Cake Break will be run everywhere in the UK on the 20 May prior to MS Week which runs from 23 May – 29 May


50/50 WINNERS

Our Fifth and final 50/50 Club Draw, drawn on:07/04/2011 Winners are:-

First Prize         -   £50   -   No:31 Liz Travers 

Second Prize     -   £30   -   No:106     Karin Lang

Third Prize        -  £20     -  No:67       Alexandra Dunn

Entries still available at £5 a go. Contact our office on 01294 558866.
50% of all monies raised go the Branch with the remaining 50% returned in
prize money.

NEW CUMNOCK GROUP DONATIONS
The New Cumnock & Surrounding Areas MS Group's Caroline Duncan (Chairperson) and Tommy Nicol (Treasurer), had great pleasure in presenting Jacqueline Downs
and Alan Izat with a cheque for £2,500 to help with their fantastic work at the Douglas Grant Centre at Ayrshire Central Hospital (photo below left). The previous month, a cheque for  £1,000 was presented by the group to Harry Travers, Secretary of Ayrshire & Arran Branch.

We still meet once a month at the Lochside House Hotel in New Cumnock on the last Tuesday of the month, transport can be arranged if necessary. 49 persons attended our latest meeting.

Everyone who has an active interest in joining an upbeat group with an open outlook - what are you waiting for ? Dont just say you will DO IT ... lift the phone and dial 01290 333846 we are waiting for your call!



AYRSHIRE & ARRAN MS SERVICE BENEFITS FROM £10,000 WORTH OF NEW EQUIPMENT

Over last ten years, the MS Society has contributed over £250,000 to promote local developments in the NHS not only in donation of medical equipment but especially in the employment of  dedicated specialist MS staff at the excellent Douglas Grant Rehabilitation Centre in Irvine.  

This is a good example of the ongoing partnership between a statutory authority and a voluntary organisation.  From the Society’s point of view, it would not be possible without the continuing support of the local community over 40 years of
our work. It is greatly appreciated and acknowledged. 

It is recognised by all that the Branch has no paid staff, all are volunteers, and monies raised stay in Ayrshire towards projects like this.  Recently the branch with the Douglas Grant Rehab Centre supported the joint purchase of a portable Bladder Scanner and a MOTOmed movement therapy machine.







Ayrshire & Arran Branch
of the Multiple Sclerosis
Society Scotland

84 Main Street
Kilwinning
Ayrshire KA13 6AG
OPEN 11am - 3pm
MONDAY - SATURDAY

Tel: 01294 558866
Email: msayrshire@talktalk.net
DGU staff and users with the Bladder Scanner and MOTOmed donated by Ayrshire and Arran Branch:
Back Row – Anne Thomson, Sam Davidson, Alan Izat, Tommy Nicol, Jacqui Downs
Middle Row – May Smalley, Morag Davidson, Janette Nicol, Harry Travers
Front – Gillian Evans
The New Cumnock and Surrounding Areas MS Group made a generous donation of £2,500 to the Douglas Grant Rehab Unit recently. The group's Chairperson Caroline Duncan (far left) and Treasurer Tommy Nichol (far right) presented the cheque to Alan Izat and Jacqui Downs.
An MS Cake Break took place at our Resource Centre on 21st May and despite the wet weather those attending had a good time.
The photo above shows organiser Betty Harvie with some of those who turned out to support the event.
.
Young volunteer Colby Bettley played her part in
our fundraising efforts when she took on the job of selling Branch Wristbands to people she knew.

Colby raised the healthy sum of £70 and is seen below handing over a cheque for this amount to Blair, who is one of our Resource Centre Volunteers.
The Branch Committee would like to thank Colby for her hard work and support.
.