MS Society Newsletter

 MS Society
Lambeth & Southwark Newsletter
September 2013
Annual Meeting
23rd May
We were delighted to welcome 12 branch members to this year’s
Annual Meeting as well as several others from the MS Society
including Patricia Gordon, Acting Chief Executive. In total
approximately 30 people attended the meeting.
Food and drink were laid on
for the first part of the evening
and then we settled to the
formal proceedings, which included a welcome
and review of the year from Sandra Hinds,
Support Officer, and a financial report from Jon
Aldous, Treasurer. Elections were held by show
of hands for branch committee posts.
Branch Chair Tom Veli was unable to attend but
sent a report setting out his plans for the branch.
Key points were setting up a partnership with the
local Citizen’s Advice Bureau, creating a local
‘drop-in’ facility at a regular venue, and organising
more social and other activities for people
affected by MS in our area.
We were then delighted to be joined by Simon
Hughes, (picture above) MP for Bermondsey and
Old Southwark.
Welcome to Rachel Lommerzheim,
new committee member
See bio on back page
PIP talk
16 October
Kam Patel from the DWP will be coming
to talk about Personal Independent
Payments (PIP) on the 16th October.
This is a repeat of the talk given May 31st
Start time 13.30
Venue: Ability Media Centre,
56 Southwark Bridge Road, SE1 0AS
Names please by 7th October to Sandra
Hinds Support Officer on 07974 666 324
fact that MS is an extremely variable condition
After making some introductory comments, Simon
often from one day or even hour to the next.
was keen to hear about the concerns of local
people with MS and took open questions for an
• Local resources and provision of services.
hour from attendees.
The main issues of concern raised were:
• The nature of the forms for DLA and its
replacement PiP. The DLA forms were regarded
as being unsuitable for people with MS as they
were very rigid with no facility for recording the
On the question of resources, Simon suggested
that we meet as a group to be clear about what is
needed.
Simon very kindly agreed to meet again with us
at a future date to follow up on clear ideas where
he could act as an advocate for us to move ideas
forward.
Research Talk and Social
A Symphony in D minor entitled
“Immune System” – what does this
mean for MS?
Friday 20th
September 2013
The last research
talk organised by the
branch was in January
2012. We’ve decided to
hold another one and
combine it with a social.
As it happens a good friend of the branch is a
brain scientist working at Imperial College,
Dr Pascal Durrenberger will be delivering the talk.
We will be holding the event at the fully
accessible Ability Media Centre, 56 Southwark
Bridge Road, London SE1 0AS. It will start at
6:30 pm and we will be providing refreshments.
Places may be limited so if you are thinking of
coming please let us know by E-mail or phone to
help us plan refreshments.
E-mail: lambethsouthwarkms@gmail.com
Tel: 07974 666 324
FIREWALK 3rd NOVEMBER
Are you interested in doing something a
bit different? Like to help your local MS
Branch?
We are looking for volunteers to help us
raise funds by taking part in a Firewalk.
It will be a fun evening where you will
be given training and help support the
branch. All abilities welcome.
UP FOR THE CHALLENGE? Contact Sandra
Hinds on 07974 666 324 for further details
http://www.blazefirewalking.com/
firewalk.html
Events diary
20th Sept 6:30 pm Research Talk & Social
Ability Media Centre
Sept/Oct Pilates lessons
Venue to be confirmed
16th Oct 1.30 pm Kam Patel, PIP talk
Ability Media Centre
3rd Nov Firewalk
19th Nov 6:30 pm Social
Grand Union, Brixton
Looking for members for
Pilates Classes!
We are seeking members who would
be interested in participating in Pilates
classes. Pilates exercises are gentle, yet
effective, for all fitness levels and abilities.
They are non-impact and non-weight
bearing, but strengthen core muscles and
improve overall balance and stability.
We have been approached by a
Neurological Physiotherapist/Pilates
instructor who has volunteered to run the
classes over an initial 6 week period. A
venue is yet to be confirmed, however if
you are interested in participating please
let us know. All initial costs for those
participating will be covered.
For more information, please call
07974 666 324.
Donate over the phone
Call: 0800 100 133
Sportability – what do you
think?
We’ve been hearing about a lot of interestingsounding activities organised in the London
area by Sportability, which is a registered charity
providing sport and challenging pursuits for
people with paralysis around the UK. Here’s what
they say on their website (http://www.sportability.
org.uk/):
People with conditions such as spinal cord injury,
stroke, MS and others, are able to participate in
a whole range of sports - scuba diving, sailing,
archery, angling, abseiling, quad-biking, gliding,
canoeing, clay pigeon shooting, go-karting, landyachting, wheelchair tennis and many more.
It is not about creating elite sportsmen and
women. It is about trying something new
and different. It is about the adrenaline rush,
putting the buzz back into a life corralled by the
wheelchair, taking the ‘dis’ out of disability and
focusing on ability. To inspire the thought, “If I
can do this, what else can I achieve?”
They have an interesting day coming up on
Friday 13th September in Redhill in Surrey: a
multi-sports days of quadbiking, clay pigeon
shooting and archery. They say:
As usual, we’ll meet just before 11am with coffee
and a briefing in the cosy barn, then kit up for the
quad-biking session. This will be a gentle circuit
in the fields adjoining. Please note: absolute
beginners or never-evers all welcomed!
We have a total of three events on the day:
quadbiking, clay pigeon shooting and archery,
but you are under no pressure to take part in
every event. Although you might surprise yourself
and be tempted! Don’t worry if you have never
held a bow or a shotgun in your hands before.
You’ll be amazed at what you might achieve.
It is always a day of fun and discovery.
Approximate timetable and running order:
QUADBIKING 11am to 12.30pm
CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING 1pm to 2pm
ARCHERY 2pm to 3pm
If any of you tries a Sportability event do let
us know how you got on. (Contact details for
booking are Valerie on 020 8959-0089 or e-mail
info@sportability.org.uk.)
Would you be interested in a group trip from
Lambeth and Southwark to a Sportability event?
If so, please let us know.
(E-mail: lambethsouthwarkms@gmail.com
Tel: 07974 666 324)
Sponsored Cycle Ride
Branch volunteer Pascal is one of our
keenest supporters. See ‘Research Talk’
in this issue for details of the talk he is
giving at our next social.
He is also very kindly raising money for
our branch by taking part in the London
to Brighton bike ride on Sunday 8th
September.
If you’re able to encourage Pascal with
some sponsorship, please do so at his
Justgiving page here: http://www.
justgiving.com/Pascal-Durrenberger
Alternatively, you can just text a donation
to the JustTextGiving number 70070.
Quote the
reference
PAZZ49 and
the amount
you wish to
donate e.g. to
donate £5 text
PAZZ49 5.
Thank you,
Pascal, for this
great effort,
and good luck
on the hills!
New committee member
Rachel Lommerzheim
What persuaded you to volunteer with the
MS Society?
Working as an Occupational Therapist in a
neurological setting means that I have worked
with many people that are living with MS. I had
previously done a bit of work with the MS Society
in Australia and know how important volunteers
are. I thought that volunteering, while living in
London would be a way to put some of my skills
to good use!
What figure from history would you take for
a pint?
George Orwell. I love his writing and the ideas
and views he expressed about the society in
which we live.
Who has influenced you the most?
My parents moved to Australia from Germany
when they were 25 while the rest of my relatives
stayed in Germany. I think this has definitely
influenced my love for travel and moving out
of my comfort zone. It has also taught me the
importance of maintaining close relationships with
family and loved ones, despite the barriers of time
and distance.
What is your most prized possession?
My camera and all of my photos.
What is your pet hate that drives you crazy?
People that openly cough and sneeze on the
tube.
What is your most annoying habit?
Locking my keys inside my car and my flat (my
house mates will definitely agree with this).
What event has altered the path of your life/
character?
I had the opportunity to volunteer overseas in
both China and Cambodia. These experiences
both shaped my desire to work in healthcare
and hopefully to complete more work within
organisations that promote health in developing
nations.
What philosophy underpins your life?
Promote what you love instead of bashing what
you hate.
How would you like to be remembered?
As someone who laughed often, in particular at
myself!
Free MS Helpline 0808 800 8000 helpline@mssociety.org.uk
THANKS FOR THE CAKE BREAK IN MAY
As part of our branch fundraising initiative we
held a Cake Break at Peckham Pulse Healthy
Living Centre.
It was a really fun event looking back but for
someone who hasn’t made a cake since School
days (and that was a while!) it was a stressful
time.
There was a wonderful array of cakes and
biscuits made by a very kind group of ladies.
Lemon drizzle and Red velvet to name a few.
It may seem a bit odd to be selling cakes in
a gym but it was ideal for us as the cafe has
closed and everyone who purchased cakes saw
it as a treat after their work out.
We sold everything and made £67.05
I would like to thank the following:
The staff at Peckham Pulse, Jane Garvey,
Sharron, Rachel Biles for their yummy cakes,
Jon Aldous for giving up your lunch break and
Sandra Hinds, CCC, (Chief Cake Coordinator!).
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