May - June 2018 Newsletter of The South and West Cornwall MS Group

South & West Cornwall MS Group Newsletter May - June 2018 Welcome!

Nikki Jenkin Nikki has been our Health and Safety Volunteer and worked with Malcolm as his business and performing partner together forming Fire ’n’ Ice. Nikki has decided to vacate the post of Health and Safety Volunteer and now pursue other music and work interests. May we all wish Nikki well for the future and a great big thank you, for the many hours as a Volunteer to our Group. Also thank you Nikki for the many hours with Malcolm, entertaining us together with our Families and Guests, who came with us to your concerts and venues. Also helping to raise funds with Fire ’n’ Ice for our Group to enjoy such events!

Welcome to Tony Stribley As we wish Nikki all the very best wishes for the future, we are pleased to welcome Tony as a very important Volunteer to replace Nikki. Thank you Tony for accepting the role and we all wish you all the very best wishes in becoming Health and Safety Volunteer for our Group. Tony brings a wealth of knowledge relating to Health and Safety, due his working life in building and construction. Much to Tony’s credit is the fact together with his dear Wife Judith and their Guests, attend many of our events, know so many of our Members and had a very strong friendship with Malcolm. Judith will also be Volunteering and has done so recently with a collection at Marks and Spencer in Truro. Welcome to you both, as Volunteers and we sincerely hope our friendship will be a long one to us all, to fill the void we all have, with the loss of Malcolm.

Are You a Wheelchair or Scooter User or Need Transport to Events We as a group of Volunteers recognise that some of our Members may find it difficult to come to events because of transportation issues. Our next Volunteer meeting due on the 17th July, this item to discuss is on the agenda. Please could you contact us and tell us your problems, what would be suitable for you and also if you are a driver / owner of a wheelchair accessible vehicle, would you be willing to help someone in return for a mileage payment. If so, how much. The MS Society does pay mileage expenses to Staff and Volunteers, of course. We see no reason why this cannot be used to help our Members! Looking forward to hearing from you! We are also looking at any grant or “transport facility” type funding that may be available to our group. We will keep you updated.

All views expressed in this publication are individual and not necessarily the view or policy of the charity and its supporters.

Multiple Sclerosis Society Registered charity nos. 1139257 / SC041990

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Sunday Carvery Lunch - Killiow Golf Club, Killiow Estate, Kea,Truro,TR3 6AG,on Sunday the 12th August at 12.30 PM. Two Course Carvery Lunch Vegetarian & Gluten Free Option MS and Carers are FREE All other Members - £5.00 Members Guests - £5.00 To Book , call Karen on 01872 274 188 or Email: karenfm51@outlook.com Numbers attending Killiow are limited because many of their own Guests and Golf Club Members attend the very popular (and excellent value for money) Carvery on Sunday’s.

At the moment we have about forty of our Members and their Guests coming. We can have up to sixty places. Please, Please, book NOW with Karen as Killiow will need to know the number of our Members within a month of the event. Oh, please bring a raffle prize for the event or for any of our future events. Thanks!

Please note also that Killiow does not have a disabled toilet. We have asked about when it will be provided. We can only say therefore, anyone coming to our Carvery Lunch on the 12th of August, so please bear in mind that there are no disabled toilets at Killiow and therefore the toilets on site, may be difficult to access by anyone in a wheelchair or mobility scooter.

To Book , call Karen on 01872 274 188 or Email: karenfm51@outlook.com Remember to state if you require Vegetarian or Gluten Free Raffle prizes for Events To help with this so that as many people can come we are now holding a ‘Super Raffle’ at every event that we hold to raise as much money to offset these costs and to make venues as good as we can so if you do come to any (apart from the Brewery) please bring along a gift that we can raffle – it makes a huge difference and it is all part of the fun.

- Karen and Cera The MS Society Website https://www.mssociety.org.uk/ The new MS Society website was launched at the end of April. Already it has drawn the attention of a magazine called “Web User” who gave it a 4 out of 5 star review as one of the best new websites of the month. It was reported in the 30th to 12th June issue on news-stands. Well done to the Web Team!

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The “Get Together on June 9th, At Beefeater, The Carnon Inn Thirty three people attended including Sarah Cowling from Lotus Flower Cornwall on the day. A great big Thank you to Sarah, who gave a brilliant talk with practical demo’s on the subject of complimentary therapy. The day ended by Sarah almost putting everyone to sleep! Meditation and relaxation to finish after a brilliant lunch was enjoyed by all!

Except two Volunteers who left to pay the bill! Hilary and myself. Thank you to everyone who donated towards the raffle and the sum of £83 was raised. We covered Members with £10 for providing lunch with the majority spending much less. Therefore the day was well within budget.

Sarah Giving Her Talk

Karen and Cera on “Raffle Duty” and Everyone Having a Good Time

It was lovely to see a few Members come, who we have not seen for a while, due to their ongoing health related issues. Be it MS or something else. Members came from as far as Ludgvan, way down west and Bodmin, way up north. This truly was a “Get Together” in the true sense of the word. Let’s not leave it too long until we have another!

Christmas Luncheon at The Falmouth Hotel Karen has booked our Group to have a traditional Christmas Luncheon on the 8th of December meeting 12.30 PM for 1.00 PM lunch. All with MS and Carers free of charge. Further details will be published in the coming months.

But if you intend to go, please contact Karen on 01872 274 188 or email: karenfm51@outlook.com

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Are You or Know of Anyone, 18 to 35 Years of Age With MS? Here is a Fantastic Opportunity! http://www.msail.co.uk/ “M-Sail” provide sailing trips on board a classic yacht and a traditional Tall Ship along the Cornish coastline from our base at Falmouth. The 2-day or 3 day voyages are a gentle introduction to sailing and allow participants to learn new skills, boost confidence, share stories, find friendship and enjoy time out - all in a fun and positive environment. Mark Hardaker lives near Helston and is a Member of our Group. Mark has recently helped to set up a new sailing charity providing FREE sailing experiences for 18 to 35-year-old’s with MS. Here is the message from Mark and what he has to offer. The registered charity was set up to help inspire people to lead an active and rewarding life through the early stages of the condition. After I was diagnosed, I began volunteering for a sailing charity for injured veterans and witnessed first-hand the therapeutic and positive effects of sailing and the sea. I decided to help put M-Sail together to give others with MS an opportunity to experience something similar and meet others with the condition in their own age group.

Mark has sent us a photograph of one the vessels which I have placed above.

CAB / CAC - Citizens Advice Cornwall Since informing you of our close link with CAB / CAC, via our fast track referral for our Members, I am pleased to report that six Members has taken advantage of the system together with their partner or spouse. So that makes about a dozen who have found the service of benefit . The response time from CAB to first contact has been within two working day’s. Most has been next day!

Telephone our Group on 01872 274 911 / email: southandwestcornwall@mssociety.org.uk All views expressed in this publication are individual and not necessarily the view or policy of the charity and its supporters.

Multiple Sclerosis Society Registered charity nos. 1139257 / SC041990

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Another Diary Date; Visit to St Austell Brewery We had a Carers visit to St Austell Brewery in February 2015 that was brilliant. We met in the Visitor Centre and had a guided tour of the working brewery. The tour started with the exhibition of the history of the company, (started in 1851 by Cornishman Walter Hicks) then a tour of the plant and the whole brewing process. The tour takes you to the "old mill" (I believe over 100 years old, but still in working order) where the views look out over across St Austell and surrounding areas, all the way down to Charlestown. The tour ends with a fine selection of beers and ales to sample before having a meal in the Hicks Bar. We enjoyed this event so much, we are having it again.

Karen has booked us for Wednesday the 10th of October 2018.

There will be a brilliant menu to choose from with something for everyone together with a drink of your choice. There is no cost for Carers or MS affected. However, please be aware that it is in an industrial working environment, with steps and stairs and possibly water on the floor in places. (The water may leak or be spilt from the brewing process).

I have a Devon and Cornwall Railcard that gives discounted travel by train. If anyone wish to catch the train from Truro with me, I can book a "Groupsave" for us as a group.

- Mike M.

Collection at Marks and Spencer, Truro 16th June Karen arranged a day in M & S in Truro from opening time to almost closing time with a handful of Volunteers. Karen who organised the day has sent us this message, Hi all, We collected £354.14 at Marks and Spencer's, which is a fantastic amount, so thanks to all that helped and I think we need to possibly do another somewhere this year. I saw someone sitting inside the Co-op the other day, maybe I will find out if that is possible. Thanks again and for making it so enjoyable.

Karen Well, Thank you Karen for once again putting so much hard work in arranging this event. We look forward to the next. Could you spare an hour or so at a collection?

Meet the public and be “an Ambassador” for our Group? Please call or email and help raise much needed funds for MS. All views expressed in this publication are individual and not necessarily the view or policy of the charity and its supporters. Multiple Sclerosis Society Registered charity nos. 1139257 / SC041990

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Some Useful Group Telephone Numbers and Other Contacts Finance Volunteer: Hillary Merton 01872 863896 MS Support Volunteer: Martin Welton 01872 274 911 Admin & Group Membership Volunteer: Janet Jelbert 01209 717776 Collecting Volunteers South: Karen and Keith Moore 01872 274188 Collecting Volunteers West: Ann and David Jones 01736 757297 Communications, Web and I.T. Volunteer: Mike May 01872 272957 Health & Safety Volunteer: Tony Stribley 07702 616 835 The Merlin Centre: 01726 885530 MS Nurses at Treliske: 01872 253063 Treliske Hospital General Switchboard: 01872 250000 St Michael's Hospital, Hayle: 01736 753344 West Cornwall Hospital, Penzance: 01736 874000 Camborne Redruth Community Hospital (Barncoose): 01209 318000 Falmouth Hospital : 01326 430000 Marie Therese House, Hayle: 01736 758875 Kernow Carers Service: 0800 5878191 Adult Care and Support - Cornwall Council: 0300 1234131 MS Society Helpline: 0808 800 8000.

Our Group telephone landline is available for general enquiries and is also a direct line for local MS Support: 01872 274 911 or email : southandwestcornwall@mssociety.org.uk

Post may be sent to; MSS, 2 Sara’s Row, Redbrooke Rd, CAMBORNE, TR14 7AZ Our support email address which is separate and accessed, only by our Support Volunteer, Martin Welton is:

southandwestcornwallsupport@mssociety.org.ok

Contact Details for MS National Centre

By Post: MS National Centre (MSNC), 372 Edgware Road, London NW2 6ND TEL: 020 8438 0700

By Email: For General Enquiries; supportercare@mssociety.org.uk also; For Help, Guidance and Support; supportercare@mssociety.org.uk All views expressed in this publication are individual and not necessarily the view or policy of the charity and its supporters.

Multiple Sclerosis Society Registered charity nos. 1139257 / SC041990