Shrewsbury and District

MS Society Newsletter

Registered Charity 1139257

Welcome to your autumn Newsletter ! I wonder how many of us are remarking on how quickly the year is passing? Already summer holidays are a lovely memory and shops are starting to stock Christmas cards and decorations. Every year we comment on how this seems to happen earlier and earlier. So I’m not going to say all that – or did I just do so ?! I know some find the darker evenings and colder days rather sad after the sunshine and warmth of the summer, and others just love the glorious autumn colours, the misty mornings and that freshness in the breeze. The best of it is that the seasons are always changing, and there is something for everyone. I hope you enjoy this Newsletter, and don’t forget to let me know if you would like something included, or have any other ideas. Thanks, Mim.

Income July / August 2013 £

Subscriptions 5.00 Donations with subscriptions 15.00 Church Stretton tin collection 540.14 Morrisons tin collection 412.66 Sainsburys tin collection 436.56 Donation – P Weatherill 50.00 Shrewsbury street tin collection 941.95 2012 commission on Christmas cards 218.13 In memory of Cecilia Philpott 274.32 Donation from Barbara Brown & Family, in memory of Phyliss France 65.00 Interest (July & August) 23.08 If you are receiving this email by post and would like to receive it by email

– in colour – please let me know: mimandjock@gmail.com Next issue – Nov/Dec 2013

Issue 63

Sep/Oct

2013

The Hamar Centre RSH First Thursday of every month.

10.30 to 11.30 Exercise Session followed by Lunch.

1.00 Speakers on a variety of interesting and informative topics:

Thursday 3rd October Val Littlehales ‘The Lore & Legends of Trees’ Val is a local poet and storyteller.

Thursday 7th November Linda Whitney ‘The Spinning Wheel’ Linda is bringing her spinning wheel along to demonstrate and talk about spinning. We will be able to have a go as well !

Thursday 5th December Christmas Quiz – just for fun !

If you would like to come along but have questions or concerns call us on the Branch Helpline and we will try to help.

Forthcoming Tin Collections:

Dobbies – We continued to collect as and when we can obtain volunteers.

The total collected, at the last count, was £1,282 – and continues to grow.

A big thank you to the following, who have contributed to this figure: Ruth Pagett, Diane Lewis, John & Ann Moogan, Rob Furlong, Susie Emmett, Hilary Fisher, Hilda Shepherd, Janet Carter, June Harvey, Sue Cadwallader, Joy Jones, Maria Jones, Sheila Bebbington & Jean Banks.

If you can help, please contact Jock [01743 718616 mimandjock@gmail.com] or Joy [01743 352622 jones.joy11@yahoo.co.uk]

Thanks to all who helped out at the Shrewsbury Street Collection: A GRAND TOTAL OF £941.95 was raised – a wonderful effort by all. Our thanks to: Christine Crump, Hugh Colley, Diane Lewis, Sheila Bebbington, Hilary Fisher, Joy Jones, Claire Jones, Jon Rixon, David Fisher, Margaret Evans, Jill Bishop, Jo Jones, Maggie Mitchell, Paul Richards, Karen Richards, Margaret Shuker, Janet Carter, Hilda Shepherd, Barbara Brown, Rob Furlong, Suzie Emmett, Tony Price.

We would love to know what you would like from your local Branch, for example, social events, exercise classes, informative meetings.

Also we would like to hear from anyone who would like to volunteer to help at these events.

Please contact any member of the Committee with your ideas.

We are grateful to the organisers of the Bridgnorth Music & Arts Festival for choosing the

Shrewsbury branch of the MS Society as one of their ‘chosen charities’. They had an active

team collecting throughout the festival, and some of us joined them on the Sunday, when the

High Street was full of music and stalls selling wonderful crafts and gifts, and fabulous

smelling food.

A total of £316.45 was collected – a fantastic effort by all involved – our thanks to the

organisers.

FOR SALE

Electric Adjustable Bed £250 Lightweight Foldable Wheelchair with Cushion £75

3-leg walking stick with seat £5 Foldable walking stick £5

4-Wheeled Walker with Brakes, seat & storage £50

All perfect condition and collectable from Copthorne area.

Contact Mo 07866 552745 or email mpullen@live.co.uk

Volunteers Wanted!! DO YOU HAVE ANY SPARE TIME ON YOUR HANDS?

IF THE ANSWER IS YES THEN WHY NOT VOLUNTEER WITH US

AND BECOME A COMMITTEE MEMBER

We are looking for members of the public to volunteer with us and join our committee.

We are a local branch of the MS Society that focuses on providing support to local

people as well as raising funds for national research.

The committee meets every 4-8 weeks in Shrewsbury although particular roles

would need a greater time commitment.

We are looking for people with general skills as well as those with particular experience in

fundraising, IT and support. We have a specific need for people who would be willing to

be trained to offer telephone support to people seeking advice on MS issues.

If you are interested in joining us and would like to know more, please contact the

Chair, Peter Cornell by email cornellp@gmail.com or by leaving your details on our

helpline number 01743 718641

This is YOUR Newsletter.

Please send me anything

you would like to be

considered for inclusion:

articles, letters, items for

sale, etc. All ideas

welcome.

Thanks, Mim

SAVE THE DATE

Volunteer Open Day

MS National Centre in London will host an Open Day

on Tuesday 5th November for all MS Society volunteers.

Full details will be available on the volunteer website.

If you have any queries contact the volunteering team

on 020 8438 0944 or volunteering@mssociety.org.uk

For Sale. Elap rotating car seat

to aid entry and exit to/from vehicles.

Originally purchased for £900 – now

available for any reasonable offer.

For more information contact

Fred Gazeley on 02476 372614 or

email fred.gazeley@ntlworld.com

Outdoor electric Huntleigh

wheelchair.

Purchased in 1997. 18” seat

width. Available in exchange for

a donation to the Society.

Call 01743 790922 for further

details.

You are invited to our

Christmas Lunch

at 12.30 for 1.00pm

on Friday, 6th

December 2013

at The Lord Hill Hotel, Shrewsbury.

Menu

Roast Shropshire Turkey, chestnut seasoning, chipolata & bacon roll,

cranberry sauce

Or

Cauliflower Cheese Stuffed Portobello Mushroom – creamed sweetcorn &

piquillo pepper

********

Traditional Plum Pudding & creamy Cognac sauce

Or

Mocha Chocolate Terrine & burnt orange compote

If you would like to attend, please contact Joy on 01743 352622 or the branch helpline

01743 718641. We need your names by Sunday 24th November.

It’s that time again!

Charity Christmas Card Shop St. Mary’s Church, Shrewsbury

Opening times: Friday 25th October to Saturday 7th December (excluding Sundays),

10.15 am to 4.15pm.

An opportunity to buy your Christmas Cards, wrapping, etc. and support your local branch

of the MS Society.

Volunteers needed on Thursday 24th October at 10.15am to help with checking in stock.

We also need help in the shop: Saturday 2nd Nov, 12.55 pm to 4.15 pm

Saturday 9th Nov, 12.55 pm to 4.15 pm

Saturday 23rd Nov, 12.55 pm to 4.15 pm

The Big Kilo

Facebook post by Martin Carruthers on 15th September.

Massive mile-stone yesterday - cracked the 1,000 mile barrier on my pedal trike!

It's taken around 12 years. Several years I have been unable to cycle at all, but mile-by-mile I got there.

Edwin, Shelagh, Jenny & John helped me through the last leg as part of "Ride 'n Stride" around local churches. Also my 6 year old nephew Ashton. Little dynamo has inspired me around many a mile. Even those ...who thought I'd never do it - showed them too! More excitement at The Moat Shed - vintage tractors & a helicopter! Smashing afternoon tea & cake. Super evening with Keith & Karen, and a chance to celebrate our joint success of my trike & Karen's brilliant results at National Riding Clubs Championships. Fantastic food, plus wine tasting Keith's home-made wine collection... Slept well!

All my friends whether you knew it or not have been with me on the journey.

Thank you one & all xxxxx

MS Information Day

Three knowledgeable speakers joined us at The Lord Hill Hotel to inform and discuss topics

important to people affected by MS:

Continence Issues in MS

Presented by Gill Davey – Continence Nurse Specialist & Continence Team Leader,

Dudley Community Health Services.

Gill gave a detailed talk on some of the bladder and bowel dysfunction issues

associated with MS. She explained why these symptoms arise and outlined ways of

coping with and controlling them. Methods of investigation, diagnosis and treatment

were also discussed, including ways in which sufferers could help themselves by diet,

exercise and toilet habits. Gill also showed us a number of products and items of

equipment which could assist with specific problems.

Rehabilitation Issues in MS

Presented by Rachel Fisher – MS Team Lead / Advanced Physiotherapist, Neuro-

Rehabilitation, West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre

Rachel spoke to us about the role that rehabilitation can play in improving &

maintaining function, promoting good health and managing impairments and

disabilities. We also heard how a typical rehabilitation programme would work, from

initial contact with experienced staff, assessment of living / working needs, through to

ongoing monitoring and review of requirements.

The West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre MS Specialist Clinic can provide assessment

and advice to increase independence and quality of life for adults with MS. A referral

can be made by any healthcare professional.

More information about the West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre can be found at

www.bhamcommunity.nhs.uk or simply Google ‘West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre’.

Getting the Right Benefits Advice

Presented by Majella O’Dwyer, A4U Shrewsbury.

Majella spoke to us about the new PIP (which we have covered in previous

Newsletters), and how it will affect those currently claiming DLA, and those claiming

benefits for the first time.

Important dates are:

10 June 2013 – All NEW claims will be for PIP for all those aged 16 to 64.

7 October 2013 – Reassessment for PIP will begin for all those with DLA awards

coming up for renewal, or who are reporting a change in their condition. When an

existing DLA claimant makes a PIP claim, the DLA will normally continue until a

decision on the PIP claim is made.

October 2015 – The remaining DLA claimants will begin to be selected and told

what they need to do to claim PIP. Those over 65 will be prioritised.

Majella gave a lot of advice on how to complete the claim form, and how to prepare

for the medical assessment. Here are some of her top tips:

‘Reliably, repeatedly & regularly’ means you can do the activity SAFELY, to the

REQUIRED STANDARD, REPEATEDLY, and in a TIMELY MANNER.

Plan and practice for your medical assessment – remember the DESCRIPTORS used

in the claim form.

Request that your assessment be recorded – and ask for a copy.

Attend the assessment with a knowledgeable person, who is confident enough to

challenge the assessor.

Remember the vital importance of supportive medical evidence – from the

beginning of the process.

Keep a diary of how the condition affects you.

A4U Shrewsbury provides free, confidential and impartial advice and advocacy on

all aspects of disability, to people with disabilities, their families and carers, as well

as health and social care professionals. For further information call their Helpline

on 01743 256218 or log on to their website at www.A4U.org.uk

We have copies of the following which are relevant to the topics above:

Fact sheets:

o Bladder Irritants

o Overactive Bladder

o Basic Tips for Bladder Training

o Pelvic Floor Exercises for Women

MS Essentials:

o No. 7 ‘Managing Bladder Problems’

o No. 25 ‘Managing the Bowel in MS’

o No. 01 – ‘Managing a relapse’

o No. 21 – ‘Exercise and physiotherapy’

o No 09 – Benefits and MS

o No 29 – Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

If you would like copies of any of these please contact the Branch

Helpline on 01743 718641.

Solution on back page

Daft Questions !?!

What was the best thing before sliced bread?

If all the world’s a stage, where is the audience sitting?

Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called the rush hour?

Church Notices At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be

'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that

began in their school days.

Next Thursday there will be try-outs for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

Shrewsbury and District MS Society Committee Chairperson: Peter Cornell cornellp@gmail.com Secretary: Mary-Anne Richey shrewsburymsbranch@hotmail.co.uk Treasurer: Ruth Pagett krpagett@hotmail.com Fundraiser: Jock Elliot-Smith mimandjock@gmail.com Fundraiser: Joy Jones Jones.joy11@yahoo.co.uk Newsletter Editor: Mim Elliot-Smith mimandjock@gmail.com IT & Membership: David Robbins gillirobbins@hotmail.com Admin Support: Carys Walmsley

Peter Mary-Anne Ruth Jock Joy 01588 620490 01691 610510 01952 541463 01743 718616 01743 352622

Mim David Carys

01743 718616 01939 260901

Useful Contacts – Help for MS Patients

Crossword Solution

All views expressed are those of individuals and do not necessarily reflect

the views of the Shrewsbury Branch or the MS Society. No recomm-

endation is being made of any products or services mentioned.

Kate Watkiss (MS Nurse)

07971 497902

Info.msnurses@sath.nhs.uk

National MS Helpline

Freephone

0808 800 8000

Website:

www.mssociety.org.uk

Denise Cooper (MS Nurse)

Tel: 07974 930541

Info.msnurses@sath.nhs.uk

Donna Moxon

(MS Nurse Administrator)

Tel: 01952 641222 ext 4430

(24hr answer phone)

donna.moxon@sath.nhs.uk

Email to MS Nurses – for non-urgent enquiries (not for

appointment queries) email: info.msnurses@sath.nhs.uk

Shrewsbury Branch

Helpline

01743 718641

24hr answerphone