Category Archives: Volunteering

South Coast Trip – Blog Day 6 Worthing

June 9, 2016Awareness, Campaigns, Carer's Corner, Fun Event, Fund Raising, VolunteeringClive Hudson

Our day started with breakfast together with an old work colleague of Lynn’s who quite by chance was staying in the same hotel.

We then walked across the road to the bus stop for Worthing, ?and after just a few minutes wait the bus arrived 25 minutes later we alighted right outside our venue for lunch.

With an hour to spare we explored Worthing pier and had coffee.

20160608_123823 — The Beach House Caf? with West Sussex South

At midday we walked to Beach House Cafe where we enjoyed a delightful buffet lunch. We were joined by Councillor Val Turner, Pam Fry, Rae Martin-Smith and members of West Sussex South.

20160608_123808 — Councillor Val Turner with Rae Martin Smith

As ever there were interesting coincidences. A recently diagnosed person living with MND turned out to be related to the landlady of The Wrotham Arms where our launch party was held a week ago.

We enjoyed supper in the sun at The Lobster Pot, where we found a table right by the beach, in the company of Kate Taylor and Sue Kruger of West Sussex South Branch.

20160608_164101 — Kate Taylor, Lynn and Sue Kruger

Kate kindly hosted us for the night.

Thanks to everyone from West Sussex South for most delightful day.

South Coast Trip – Blog Day 3 Bexhill

June 5, 2016Awareness, Campaigns, Carer's Corner, Fun Event, General Support, VolunteeringClive Hudson

Short walk to our event this morning following a superb breakfast at Coast B and B.? This is a superb B and B, sadly not suitable for wheelchairs.
We were entertained by Doghouse, a really good rock and blues band, great music an very supportive of MND Association.
Bernard Duncan past chair of East Sussex MND Association spoke about MND and the aim of the South Coast Trip to raise awareness and funds.
The members of East Sussex held a bucket collection which raised ?270.81.
This means that so far events and donations on our trip have raised over ?3000 for the MND Association.

We enjoyed the afternoon exploring Bexhill and found some fabulous Jazz music at a small pub called The Harp. ?The young man on the left is barely 15 and already playing like a seasoned professional.

South Coast Trip – Blog day 2 Folkestone

June 5, 2016Carer's Corner, Fun Event, General Support, VolunteeringClive Hudson

We started our day with a superb breakfast at The New Inn Sandwich.
Our first bus took us to Dover where we caught a bus to the?Memorial For The Few at Capel le Ferne.

20160604_112912 — Meeting at Memorial to The Few

We enjoyed a brilliant support meeting with a presentation from Clive Butler about the Memorial while we had tea and coffee.? It was great to see so many PwMND and their carers.
We then visited the Scramble Experience Exhibition an incredible interactive Video, audio and equipment Exhibition.
The Memorial is a wonderful place very evocative and totally wheelchair friendly.
Accessible by bus from Dover or Folkestone right to the door.
Huge thanks to Clive Butler for organising our visit.
On leaving we caught a bus to Folkestone together with Cathy Finnis and her husband Tim, then off?to Hastings and finally to Bexhill, where we arrived around 6 and made to our B and B for the night.

South Coast Trip – Blog Day 1 Sandwich

June 4, 2016Awareness, Fun Event, Fund Raising, VolunteeringClive Hudson

20160603_091427 — Shot featuring Lynn and David Setters

Fantastic Party last night at the Wrotham Arms, huge thanks to Jackie,? Blue on Black, Flashback and Adrian Powell.
Thanks to all the guests who came along and huge thanks everyone for?the donations.
Arrived Friday morning at The Olde Curiosity Shop, in pouring rain, to be greeted by a Farewell group of 20 who saw us off to Ramsgate at 10.30.

We left Broadstairs to travel first to Ramsgate and then onwards? to Sandwich,?we were joined by 5 other intrepid travellers on this leg Mark and Katy Styles, David and Helen Setters and Douglas Graham.?? In Sandwich we enjoyed a picnic with 12 others?in the potting shed.? Thank fully it was available as the weather was foul and sadly we did not get to appreciate the full beauty of the Salutation Gardens.

Our evening was spent at a Wine and Wisdom Quiz in Sandwich which was organised by Bridget Redworth and her team of volunteers.? They provided a magnificent Ploughman’s Supper which alone was worth the entrance fee.? The evening was great success and raised over ?850 for MND in East Kent.? Huge thanks and congratulations to Bridget and her team.

Special thanks to Douglas Graham, David and Helen Setters, Rae Martin Smith and Alana Maytum who all made long journeys to be with us.

Apologies for lack of photos we have loads but our technology wont allow us to post them. Will post as soon as we have sorted out how to do it on a smart phone.? We have resolved this problem, it seems to have been an inadequate connection to the internet and now we are home we are able to post .

Student Volunteering Week talk at University of Kent

February 25, 2016Awareness, Campaigns, Volunteeringadmin

Mark and Katy Styles spoke to the Psychology Society at the University of Kent on Tuesday 23rd. It was a great opportunity to talk to students about what MND was, the work of the Association nationally and locally and the different volunteer roles there are. As the talk fell in Student Volunteer Week it was doubly great to be asked to speak. Katy and Mark spoke about living with a progressive illness, what support they had from the Association and what a difference speaking about their personal story had on decision makers around the country. They spoke about their recent campaigning work in parliament and what that had lead to. The students were very kind in their comments afterwards and were given extra information about volunteering and events to look out for in the future.