Corinne Spence (shown left, with Di & Geoff Catley) has been working for almost a year now in a post jointly funded by Saint Michael’s Hospice and our MNDA Branch. We asked her to tell us more about her work and the difference she is making to people living with MND…

“Well, after nearly a year in post as the first ever MND Community Specialist working in the Harrogate district, I can honestly say it’s been a success – the Saint Michael’s Hospice patient care team, to which I belong, is consistently receiving positive feedback about the new work we have been doing, from both people living with MND and their families.

This early success can be very much credited to the solid foundations on which our service was built. Prior to my arrival local people living with MND and the professionals involved in their care came together to shape the service. They identified that what was missing was a local specialist who understood the position of people living with MND and was able to explain and connect them to the myriad of health and social care services from which they could benefit.

Finding a solution to this problem led to what I would view as a truly innovative patient led partnership between Saint Michael’s and the MND Association. So when I started work I did so knowing that I was offering local people what they wanted and needed, a great start for any service.

I am really looking forward to another year delivering this to new clients while also continuing to be there for all of the people I have met with MND and their families.”

If you are interested in volunteering as an AV, please do get in touch with us.

If you have a novel fundraising idea, let us know and we can help you to organise it (although for clubbing enquiries, Paul’s your man, it seems!)

As flagged in last year’s review Corinne Spence duly took up her post on 1st April as Community Specialist for MND at Saint Michael’s Hospice, a post that is jointly funded by the Yorkshire Dales Branch and the Hospice. This appointment has been a great success and Corinne has provided invaluable support to many with MND in the area and to their carers. Naturally the branch is committed to providing further support in 2012 and, funds permitting, into 2013. Her efforts have been complemented by Sue Smith and Colin Pearson, the Regional Care Development Advisers, and our Association Visitors whose devotion is greatly appreciated across the Dales area. Home visits and telephone support are supplemented with regular social gatherings, mainly at garden centres and establishments with wheelchair facilities to which all members and supporters are invited. Please look at the events calendar for future gatherings.

As awareness of the availability of MNDA support has increased through the activities of the Branch, and as pressure on NHS and Social Services budgets has intensified, the requests for financial assistance have multiplied. I’m happy to report however that the Branch has maintained its record of meeting every request that has met the criteria for support. Moreover after fulfilling our local commitments we have also made substantial contributions to the Research programme into the causes and cures of MND coordinated by the National Association.

Fundraising

None of the above could have been achieved without prodigious fundraising effort. In 2011 we raised over £37,000 gross and over £30,000 net after marketing expenses. Walk to d’Feet was again the biggest earner but there were important contributions arising from our favoured charity status at the Spring Northern Antiques Fair; the magnificent efforts of the Pratt family and friends at The Great North Run; the continuing income from the sale of second hand golf equipment, courtesy of Peter Wallis, and unsolicited donations from grateful recipients of Branch support. In 2012 we shall repeat all the events but we have some exciting additions. The January/February “Lose 5 lbs to make £50 for MND” promotion has already caught the imagination of many. The special lunch organised by Paul Bradley at The Mirabelle in Harrogate is a “sell-out” and the Bradley family are planning an ambitious Arts Festival in June. And all this only takes us to the middle of the year! For more information please see the events calendar and look out for more information in the quarterly editions of Chatter. Thanks to Liz Burnley
whose “Chatters” get better and better.

There is a lot of hard work that goes into all the Branch activities and I would like to thank all the committee for their willingly given unpaid commitment. As ever my special thanks go to our secretary, Anne Pratt, and our treasurer, Jim Stark, who perform their many tasks in a highly professional but unfussy way.

Finally, for the sake of all those with MND, please continue to support us in whatever way you can. If you would like to explore ways to do this do please call me on 01423 863232

Tony Gould
February 2012

Branch leaflet 2012

Informal Social lunches

Why not join us for a social gathering, in a friendly atmosphere? Dates are:
Thursday November 10th, 12.00 at Thirsk Garden Centre, Blakey Lane Thirsk YO7 3AB (junction with A168 and A19)
Friday 16th December for our Christmas lunch at The Chapterhouse, Pannal

There are many exciting ways you can raise much-needed funds for the MND Association – either as an individual or through your business. However you fundraise, you can be guaranteed your cash will make a real difference to the lives of people affected by MND.

We also need volunteers to help with events we organise as a Branch. As well as having fun as part of a great team, you would be making a real difference to people living with MND. Why not talk to one of the Branch contacts listed at the end of this newsletter about what you would like to do? You would be very welcome – however much or little time you have to spare.

URGENT: Help us make our fundraising go further

In the last edition, we asked you if you would like to receive Chatter by email in future. Thank you to those who replied – but there were so few of you!! Posting the newsletter means we have less money available to support people living with MND. So, if you haven’t already, PLEASE let us have your email address so we can send you Chatter quicker and cheaper in future! Just contact Liz on liz.burnley@gmail.com. Do it now, before you forget…thank you!!!

The stamps used in this mailing were kindly bequeathed to us by Irene Webster, a former member. Although the lovely collection of stamps was valued at face value, they actually amounted to a total of £230, which helps us hugely and is very much appreciated.