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| Bristol branch |  |
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All the news from our local area and branch should be published here hot off the press. Check our newsletter page for more details.
 We Need Your ViewsApril 2009Your views are needed. Please download the important letter for your consideration from our Events page. Please read it carefully as it affects the future of the branch..... read more » Genetics of Multiple SclerosisApril 2009A chance to be involved in multiple sclerosis research The Neurology department at Frenchay Hospital has been asked to take part in an international study concerning the genetics of multiple sclerosis. We hope that readers will be keen to take part in this study, which, we hope, will lead to a greater understanding of the disease. While it is clear that multiple sclerosis is not caused by any single gene, evidence suggests that an individual’s genetic make up can influence how likely it is that person will develop the disease. Establishing which genes are involved could be helpful in understanding the underlying causes of this disease. However, because the effects of individual genes are small, studies need to include hundreds if not thousands of individuals. The study, which is being co-ordinated by Professor Compston’s team in Cambridge will analyse DNA from thousands of patients in an attempt to identify important genetic factors in the disease. This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in the search for better treatments for the disease, since knowing what the genetic make-up of people with multiple sclerosis will help to develop therapies. We are looking to take a single blood sample from as many patients with multiple sclerosis as possible (including relapsing and remitting, primary progressive and secondary progressive). A clinical diagnosis of multiple sclerosis from a consultant neurologist is the important criteria for entry into the study. If you are seen in Bristol, we will check our hospital records. If you are seen outside Bristol, we may need to double-check with your consultant elsewhere. Please give this some thought and please be involved in this study, as hopefully if we can provide many samples from the SouthWest to add to this exciting study. If you are interested in this study and would be willing to give a sample of blood, please call my secretary (0117 970 1212 ext. 3590) and leave details (name, date of birth and neurology consultant). Many thanks, Alastair Wilkins Senior Lecturer Neurology Honorary Consultant Neurologist University of Bristol read more » On Your Bike for MS
June 2009On Your Bike for MS 10am Sunday 21st June, 2009 On Your Bike for MS is a 12 mile sponsored bike ride around Ashton Court, Bristol, raising funds for local registered charities BrAMS, (Bristol & Avon MS Centre), who offer treatment leading research and help for people with MS at Frenchay Hospital and MSPH (Multiple Sclerosis Peoples Help), who carry out small jobs in the home and garden of those with MS. If you would like to take part call Emily on 0776 611 4612, Shaun on 0117 965 9066, or visit www.brams.org.uk A minimum sponsorship of £10 (£5 for under 11s) is required when registering. • Please arrive by 9.45am and report in • Cycling helmets MUST be worn • Please ensure your bike is in a safe working order • Children must be accompanied by an adult • Bring drinks and snacks (some drinks & a BBQ will be available) • Friends and family are welcome read more » Yoga for AllSeptember 2009Yoga for All Holidays for all abilities Yoga Holiday at West Shore Hotel, Llandudno, N. Wales Thursday 3rd - Thursday 10th September 2009 I have provisionally booked the West Shore Hotel again for a seven day holiday. For those of you who have not been, it feels like a typical seaside hotel. It is fully accessible, with a lift, all wheel-in showers and very helpful & kind staff. The programme is still being finalised, but will include mid-morning yoga, with helpers, meditation, some afternoon talks and local trips out. Yoga has been found to be very beneficial for people with MS & even in wheelchairs. Costs Due to rise in food & energy costs the hotel informs me that it has had to increase its charges this year. The costs of £500pp half board for seven days has been confirmed, so I have booked the whole hotel, arriving Thursday 3rd September and departing Thursday 10th September 09. This means we will have the place to ourselves and can use the lounge floor for our yoga. Rooms There are 18 bedrooms, 9 twin, 7 single & 2 double. Four of the twin rooms have tracking hoists & most rooms have Adjustamatic beds (not always with tracking hoists). All rooms have wheel-in showers (shower chairs if required). I will do my best to match your requirements & notify you of any problems. Booking I need a non-returnable deposit of £50.00pp by Monday 30th March 2009 so that I can confirm our booking. Cheques payable to M. Willcox please. Personal care is not included but can probably be provided. I look forward to seeing you all again, hope you can all make it! Any questions please contact me by phone or email Kind Regards Mike Willcox Tel/Fax 0117 940 0030 email m.willcox@blueyonder.co.uk British Energy FundraisingFebruary 2009Staff at the British Energy HQ in Barnwood, Glos, have been very busy fundraising for the MS Society and we are proud to announce they are funding two fantastic events taking place in Gloucestershire this year! Branch and Committee members from Cheltenham, Cirencester and Gloucester branches are working together busily organising these two fabulous events. Firstly, the MS with Attitude day will take place on Saturday 23rd May 2009 at the National Star College, Ullenwood, Cheltenham Gloucestershire. A range of exciting sports, activities and ideas will be featured with opportunities to watch demonstrations, get inspired, join in and have a go! The day will be fun for all the family with lots of entertainment from juggling to bouncy castles to Morris Men! Secondly, on Sunday 20th September, we will be holding a Family Focus Day at the Cotswold Wildlife Park. Family Focus days were inspired by a young man called Barnaby whose Mum has MS. He felt there was not enough support for families who are often left to cope alone with the impact MS has on the family and individually. He wanted to provide an opportunity for families to meet together to talk and support each other. Barnaby organised the first event in London which was a great success and involved 40 family members coming together at London Zoo. In the morning, family members talked together in separate groups according to their age and family role (e.g. groups for children/young people/partners/people with MS.) This allowed people to talk freely without other family members being present and allowing everyone to share their thoughts without feeling embarrassment or guilt. The discussions were led by highly trained facilitators. Everyone then joined together for lunch and spent the afternoon in the Zoo. At the end of the day everyone felt pleased about having the opportunity to talk with others in similar situations which helped them feel they are not alone. Our first Family Focus Day will be held at the Cotswold Wildlife Park and will include lunch and free time in the afternoon around the Park. Places will be limited so please book early!! Both days are entirely free of charge but entry will be by ticket only, so please book your places as soon as possible! For further information or to book your places please ring Jacqui on 020 8438 0999. Jacqui Buckley (Local Service Development Officer) Free Counselling TrainingFebruary 2009Free Counselling Training!! We are delighted to be able to offer FREE training to people with MS, who are interested in becoming qualified counsellors. It has been recognised that counselling for people affected by MS is not as widely available as it should be, and that it would be incredibly helpful to have a counselling service available from someone who has first hand understanding and experience of the unpredictability and impact that MS often brings. So, again, as result of the fantastic fundraising on the part of British Energy HQ in Barnwood, we will be able to fund counselling training for people with MS. Places will be limited and information packs will be available early February, if you would like further details or to request a pack, please ring Jacqui on 020 8438 0999. Jacqui Buckley Local Service Development Officer New Patient Care CentreFebruary 2008People with MS welcomed the opening of a new patient care centre in Bristol. Comedian Bobby Davro opened the BrAMS centre at Frenchay Hospital. It comes less than a week after auther Jill Mansel opened the neighbouring Burden Institute, which is undertaking stem cell research for the treatment of MS. The BrAMS Centre will help hundreds of people with MS by offering them the best treatments. Earlier this week, fundraising co-ordinator for BrAMS Shaun McCarthy and MS sufferer Sam Massey presented almost £3,000 to seven MS charities (Bristol being one) during a ceremony with sports star and commentator Alistair Hignell. read more » One Site for AllJanuary 2008There is now a web site linking all the MS Charities in Bristol & the South West, take a look. read more » Carers Centre launches new telephone support servicedFebruary 2008Who do carers talk to when everyone else has gone home? Share With A Carer - a new service for carers- can be contacted on 0117 958 9906. Evenings and weekends can be the loneliest times for carers; when they are most in need of someone to talk to, but the professionals have gone home, and sometimes it appears that friends and family have too many worries of their own. The Carers Centre has launched a new evening and weekend telephone support service for carers to call – a listening ear for carers. The service is called ‘Share With A Carer’ and has already been well used since its start at the end of 2007. Trained volunteers are available every evening from 6pm till 10pm, including bank holidays. Volunteers have been selected for their empathy and non-judgemental approach. They have all completed a 10-session training, giving them the skills and confidence to listen to carers, and where appropriate, to signpost them on to other services. 0117 958 9906 is a central number giving you the information on which volunteers are available each evening. Volunteers are on mobile phones but will offer to ring you back to save your phone bill. read more » |
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