Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland
AYRSHIRE &
ARRAN BRANCH
Fighting MS in Ayrshire & Arran
NEWS
FUNDRAISING
WHO'S WHO
ABOUT US
Registered Charity Number SCO16433
WHAT'S ON?
DIRECTORY
MISCELLANY
Read all the latest news from
MS Ayrshire & Arran Branch click here
This news page is regularly updated, so please keep calling back to see what's new.
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ARRAN COLLECTION
Despite a showery day, our collection on the Isle of Arran on July 17th raised the sum of £700.
Many thanks to all who supported us.
TESCO CAN COLLECTION
Recent can collections by the Cunninghame group and the New Cumnock group at Tesco stores were a great success. Members of the New Cumnock group collected £984.36p from the Tesco Store in Auchinleck Main Street on Friday & Saturday 9th & 10th July, whilst a team from Cunninghame group collected £482.09p from the Tesco Riverway store Irvine on Saturday 10th July. Thanks to all for your support.
“ANOTHER REALLY GOOD CLASS”
An update on the group exercise study taking place in Ayrshire is now available. Click here for details
GOOD TURNOUT FOR PARKLIVE FUN RUN
Ayrshire & Arran Branch were once again well represented when the 2nd Annual Segdoune 5k Fun Run took place on Sunday, 30th May. The Segdoune Fun Run, which is part of the 'ParkLive' event at Eglinton Country Park in Kilwinning attracted around 100 contestants who ran, jogged or walked around the course.
Fifteen people ran on behalf of MS Ayrshire & Arran Branch, including a group of nine young people from
Mure Church Youth Forum in Irvine.
We will publish the amount raised from the event when this is finalised. Meanwhile, for photos of the event, please click here.
OUR SUMMER MAILING IS ON ITS WAY
By the beginning of June (Royal Mail permitting !), all 400 plus members of the Branch should have received their branch mailing. It includes our must-read Summer Newsletter, details of our lucky 50/50 Club Draw and your FREE copy of our special 40th. Anniversary Souvenir Calendar.
Additional copies of the calendar - which makes an ideal gift for friends and family at home and abroad - are available from the Branch office in Kilwinning (01294 558866) for a bargain £5 including.postage within the UK. The calendar contains lovely views of Ayrshire and Arran... plus it lasts for 18 months, so there's plenty
of space for those important MS dates!
Incidentally, please make sure our office has your current up to date address – Postal and /or Email address.
MS SPACE
The branch will run a bus to MS Space on 12th June at Perth Concert hall if enough people are interested
For more information, contact the office on 01294 558866 or email us by clicking here
2010 YEARBOOK IS NOW AVAILABLE
MS Ayrshire & Arran Branch Yearbook for 2010 is now available. This is our flagship publication which goes out to people affected by Multiple Sclerosis, health professionals, charities and suchlike in the area..
Members will receive their copy by post, but if you wish to read it online now, it is available by clicking here.
EXERCISE OPPORTUNITY
Physiotherapist Yvonne Learmonth is organising a study in the Kilmarnock and Irvine areas looking at the benefits of group exercise classes for those moderately affected by MS. Click here for details
PRESCRIPTION CHARGES - BETTER NEWS ON THE WAY
Although efforts were made by the national MS Society to exempt people with a confirmed diagnosis of MS
from all charges, they were not successful. Many are still required to pay for each and every item.
However, some better news is on its way. The Scottish Government has announced that from April 2010 charges will fall from £4 to £3 per item – a good saving. Even better (if you have to pay) the 4 month Pre-Payment Certificate will fall from £13 to £10 and the 12 month from £38 to £28.This scheme is proving more and more popular.Not great. but a further step in the right direction with a promise of total abolition of all charges in April 2011.
HENDERSON GROUP KILMARNOCK WELCOME
Members and friends are assured of a warm welcome when they come along to our long-running MS Group in
Killie. It meets on the First and Third Tuesday of each month from 1.00pm to 4.00pm in the Scout Hall at the
rear of the Henderson Church in London Road in Kilmarnock The cheery chat is warmed up by a cup
of coffee and a bite to eat. Parking, access and disabled facilities are first class.
Interested? - Phone Catherine 01563 539537.
SATURDAY DATE FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED SESSIONS
Sessions for people newly diagnosed with MS (within the last 2 years) will be taking a new approach with a one day group running on a Saturday from 11am to 3pm with a buffet lunch. The first group will be on Saturday 13th March at the Douglas Grant Rehab Unit and anyone wishing to attend should contact either Jacqui or Fiona on 01294 323056 to register, or click here to find out more
NEW RESOURCE CENTRE AND BRANCH OFFICE IS NOW OPEN
MS Ayrshire & Arran Branch are pleased to announce that our new premises will be open on weekdays between 11am and 3pm from Monday 11th January 2010. The new premises at 84 Main Street, Kilwinning have replaced our previous office which we have outgrown over the last few years.
These larger premises will allow us to operate the Resource Centre and Branch Office, along with a retail operation for small items such as books, CDs and DVDs under one roof. An official opening ceremony is planned to coincide with the Branch's 40th Anniversary in the summer.
Anyone affected by Multiple Sclerosis in any way - be it as a person with MS, family member or carer - is welcome to drop in for a chat - we're easy to find as we're directly opposite the entrance to Kilwinning Abbey - or, if you'd prefer, phone us on 01294 558866.
NEW YEAR LUNCH 2010 WAS A GREAT SUCCESS
One hundred and twenty people braved the icy
conditions on Saturday 9th January to attend the
annual New Year Lunch of Ayrshire and Arran Branch
of the Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland.
Chairman Donald McNeill welcomed all those who
attended the event at The Gailes Lodge, praising the
turnout in spite of the difficult conditions, and
commenting that 2010 marks the opening of the
Branch's new rescource centre at 84 Main Street
Kilwinning,which coincides with the 40th Anniversary
of the formation of the Ayrshire & Arran Branch.
Members and guests were joined by local dignitaries
John Scott (MSP for Ayr), Winnie Sloan (Provost,
South Ayrshire) and Stephanie Young (Provost, East Ayrshire).
Following an excellent lunch, a raffle was held which raised £470 for branch funds; all of which will be used to assist people affected by MS in the local region.
ITEMS FOR SALE
Francesca Lift & Rise Recliner Chair (Dual Motor) in rosebud wine fabric with dark wooden finishes.
The cost of this chair is £875.00 as it is a showroom model (normal price is £1,100.00). The Francesca has neat wing styling and show wood trim, enclosing a deep-button back cushion.Dimensions are:
Seat Width 20", Seat Depth 21" and Seat Height from floor is 17". The colour of the chair is terracotta.
Free delivery and installation (only on Thursday/Friday).
If interested please call Laura on 01294 313369.
A member has a rotating car seat for sale. The seat - which will fit all models of car - cost
£900 new but offers around £500 are invited. For more information please call 01563 543637.
FIRST BUS PRODUCE 'SAFE JOURNEY' CARDS
If you have a fear of falling on the bus you‘ll find this a great help. With a First Bus Safe Journey Card you can privately let the driver know what sort of help you need and they‘ll wait for you to reach your seat safely before driving off. Just show the Safe Journey Card to the driver when you get on the bus with your pass or ticket.There are several versions of the Safe Journey Card from which you can choose the one that best suits your particular needs, sich as 'Driver, please let me sit down before you drive off as I may fall'. In addition, on the reverse of the Safe Journey Card there is a section you can fill in which allows you to give details to the driver of your destinations (for example, 'Driver please let me know when we get to...')
To obtain your card click here.
BRANCH ARE THE REAL WINNERS AFTER NEW YORK MARATHON SUCCESSES
The Press and TV will tell you all about the final placings in this year’s major endurance test that took place on 1 November, but over the last three years the Ayrshire and Arran Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society is the REAL WINNER with over £23,000 going to our local funds.
It is now evident that due to the ready assistance of our supporters, old and new, the 2 Lauras – Laura James and Laura Robertson of Mauchline - will have raised over £13,000 for Branch funds – a tremendous effort well in excess of their original target of £7,000.
If you add in the £10,000 raised by the efforts of James Kyle of Kilmarnock in 2007 and Andrew Sinclair and Stephen Wilkie of Ayr in 2008, you can see just how much their very real personal achievements brings practical benefits to people with multiple sclerosis in Ayrshire.
Donald McNeill OBE, chairman of the Branch, said: “We cannot thank the participants and their many supporters enough. As an independent charity run entirely by volunteers and wih no paid staff we do not seek or receive any Government grants We pledge that all monies raised locally stays locally to benefit people affected by MS and their families. Clearly, our aims strike a chord with the Ayrshire public. In our 40 years existence they have never let us down. If anyone out there wants to go for it in 2010 the Branch would be delighted to help them.”
If you wish to boost the 2 Lauras final total visit their website – www.justgiving.com/the2Lauras
NEWLY DIAGNOSED GROUP WILL MEET AGAIN SOON
The Ayrshire & Arran MS Service run a group for people who are newly or recently diagnosed with MS. We aim to dispel some of the myths and to provide answers to your questions in a relevant and relaxed way. Family and friends are also very welcome to attend. These groups are run by members of the MS multidisciplinary team from the Douglas Grant Rehabilitation Centre as well as local authority and voluntary sector colleagues. We meet on certain Saturdays with our next meeting being on Saturday 13th March.
We encourage ownership of the course by the person affected by MS and aim to keep it informal and relaxed. We like to put you in the driving seat, listen to what issues are important to you. We aim to take your views into account at every stage by keeping the course content flexible, and of course we always allow plenty of opportunity for discussion and questions.The Ayrshire & Arran Newly Diagnosed MS Groups have been running very successfully for approximately 10 years now. Each group is asked to complete an evaluation form and some comments over the years have included:
QUOTES: Feel better knowing the support available.
Very beneficial.
I’m not so afraid of the future now.
Learning more about MS and how different it affects people.
Meeting others with MS and being able to discuss similar experiences.
Social interaction and support from the whole Team fantastic!
If you have been diagnosed in the past 2 years, and would like to come along to one of our Newly Diagnosed MS Support Groups, then please telephone Jacqui or Fiona on 01294 323056 or email by clicking here.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
Members will have received invitations from our London HQ to renew their 2010 membership with the Society. We sincerely hope you do so and continue to join with your other 400 colleagues in our local work.
It was good to see the renewal form is a lot simpler.
The Branch knows that many members do not have access to a cheque account to send off £5 subscription and any donations they make. All of your Committee have agreed to accept renewal forms and all cash from members with Carolyn MacIsaac, our membership secretary, banking them locally to our Branch accounts.. You can also hand in renewals and cash to our Kilwinning office. Carolyn will then liaise with London to ensure your membership benefits remain intact.
VACANT POSITIONS IN OUR BRANCH
There are currently two senior positions vacant within the branch. We are seeking a Vice-Chairperson for our full committee and also a Chairperson to run a committee of dedicated fundraisers (this is a new post). We also need volunteers to 'man' our branch office in Kilwinning. These are all voluntary positions. If you would like further details or wish to be considered for any of the posts, please contact our office on 01294 558866 or click here to email us.
SOCIAL NIGHT - CHANGE OF VENUE
Our monthly Social Nights have resumed and we meet for an evening of entertainment and a bar supper on the first Thursday of each month. PLEASE NOTE: The venue will be The Menzies Hotel in Irvine, not the Gailes as originally advertised.
THE 2 LAURAS MARATHON CHALLENGE LATEST NEWS
A fine donation to MS Ayrshire & Arran Story & Photo
FREE E-BOOK
Get a free copy of 'Something of the Night', our e-book of strange-but-true tales, put together by branch members. To get your FREE copy...email us
These quality Christmas Cards are designed and printed by Ling Design.
Each card bears the message "With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year"
and incorporates the MS logo and in aid of
MS Ayrshire & Arran Branch.
There are five different designs. All cards are
priced £3.25 per pack of 10.
To order your Ayrshire and Arran Branch Christmas Cards, or if
you have any questions, please telephone our branch office on 01294 558866 between 11am and 3pm Monday to Friday.
Alternatively you can click here to send us an email or write to us at MS Ayrshire & Arran, 104a Rear Main Street, Kilwinning KA13 6AA
If you wish to place your order by post or email, please state clearly:
* Your name, address and telephone number
* The name of the design(s) you wish to order and
* How many PACKS of each design you require... please note they are available in packs of ten cards with envelopes.
SANTA'S SUIT
RED ROBIN
DOG PULLING THE SLEDGE
RED DOOR AND IVY
HAPPY CHRISTMAS
ALL CARDS ARE
£3-25
PER PACK OF 10
ALL CARDS ARE
£3-25
PER PACK OF 10
WINTER GATE
I have a list of folk I know, all written in a book,
And every year when Christmas comes, I go and take a look,
And that is when I realise that these names are a part
Not of the book they're written in, but of my heart,
For each one stands for SOMEONE, who has crossed my path sometime,
And in that meeting they've become the rhythm in each rhyme...
And whilst you may not be aware of any special "link"
Just meeting you has changed my life a lot more than you think!
For once I've met somebody, the years cannot erase
The memory of a pleasant word, or of a friendly face;
So never think my Christmas cards are just a mere routine
Of names upon a Christmas list, forgotten in between,
For when I send a Christmas card that is addressed to you
It's because you are on the list of folk that I'm indebted to.
For I am but the total of the many folk I've met,
And you happen to be one of those I prefer not to forget,
And whether I have known you, for many years, or few,
In some way you have had a part in shaping things I do.
And so, when Christmas comes each year, I realise anew,
The best gift life can offer, is meeting folk like you!
84 Main Street, Kilwinning, KA13 6AG
Tel: 01294 558866
