Category Archives: General Support

Used for all posts about non medical topics.

Silence Speaks at QEQM Hub

Awareness, Campaigns, General Support, Medical, Thanks

Silence Speaks is the Association’s activity to raise awareness of speech loss in over 80 % of people living with MND. During October people take up the challenge of raising awareness of the issue by running a variety of events, these include sponsored silences, silent discos, silent quizzes and lots more.  

Chrissie Batts, East Kent Hospital Trust’s Specialist Nurse undertakes outreach to hospital

Katy Styles Mark Styles Chrissie Batts and Judy Keay

staff at all three trust hospitals to raise awareness of the support people living with MND will need with their carers should they attend or stay in hospital. 

As part of this programme, Chrissie together with Judy Keay, Association Visitor Coordinator and Katy and Mark Styles went to the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate on Friday 20th October to explain about motor neurone disease but with the added pressure of doing this silently. These awareness activities are held weekly within all three hospitals and staff from all departments are encouraged to pop in and see the presentations on those days.  

Chrissie Batts Mark Styles and Judy Keay

Together Chrissie, Judy, Mark and Katy had downloaded type to speech apps on iPhones and iPads, creating key phrases to explain what we were doing and what help people in hospital with MND many need. We used pads and pens, laminated letter sheets and pre-printed leaflets from the Association.  

We met staff from all different departments with very different duties who were all very interested to learn about speech loss in MND. Staff said that as we were not speaking it made them not want to speak. Others commented that it was really important to highlight this issue and asked what they could do to support someone with MND.

During the session, Katy Styles awarded Chrissie with an MND Association Extra Mile Award

Sally Smith and Chrissie Batts

for her dedication to supporting the people living with MND in East Kent. Extra Mile awards are awarded to staff who have gone above and beyond to support people living with MND, their families and carers. Katy had pre-recorded a short speech to explain to Chrissie why she was receiving the Award. The Chief Nurse, from the East Kent Hospital University and Foundation Trust, Sally Smith attended the presentation and congratulated Chrissie.

 

 

Support Meeting 14th October Thanington, Canterbury

Carer's Corner, Fun Event, General Support

We had a good attendance at our latest monthly support meeting which was held at Thanington, Canterbury on October 14th.

We heard a presentation from Dawn Cockburn and Julie Murby of the Harmony Therapy Trust.  A charity who provide NHS approved therapies to patients living with life limiting or debilitating diseases, including MND.

Dawn Cockburn addressing the meeting

We heard that Harmony Therapy Trust is run entirely by volunteers.  The charity is based on the Isle of Sheppey however, they have expanded their services to cover the whole of Kent.

The charity can provide up to 6 sessions of therapy to persons who would be expected to benefit from the therapy.  Therapies are only provided following medical referral.

Harmony Therapy Trust can provide a range of therapies including acupressure, aromatherapy, counselling/talking therapies, healing/reiki, holistic massage, hypnotherapy, ibx nail treatment, indian head massage, osteopathy, reflexology and reflexology lymphatic drainage.

We would like to thank Dawn and Julie for an excellent presentation.  You can find out all about the Harmony Therapy Trust at their website http://theharmonytherapytrust.org.uk

Should you feel you might benefit from a therapy provided by Harmony Therapy Trust, please contact a medical professional such as your doctor or MND nurse who will need to complete the application, which can be found here http://theharmonytherapytrust.org.uk/files/5314/9949/9161/2017_REFERRAL_FORM.pdf

Clive with the two awards

During the meeting we were able to exhibit the KM Charity Mark earned by MNDA East Kent for 2017. The Charity Mark was presented to 50 local charities who have made a substantial contribution in Kent.

Clive Hudson was also awarded a Brain and Brawn Triathlon Award for participating in a minimum of 3 KM Charity Team events in 2017, raising money for the MNDA in East Kent.

Tea by The Sea

Awareness, Fun Event, General Support

Our first Tea by The Sea was held at the Botany Bay Hotel, Kingsgate, Thanet on Wednesday 28th September.

We had six people present 3 of whom had not previously attended one of our meetings.

We enjoyed a good chat with tea and scones and all present were agreed the idea of a local meeting held monthly was a good idea,  especially as they felt unable to travel to other meeting held further away in Kent.

Lynn Hudson, Christine Rawlins, John Rawlins, John Sturges, Clive Hudson, Philomena Lawrence.

Tea by The Sea is on the last Wednesday of October (25th) and November (29th) at the Botany Bay Hotel, Kingsgate at 3pm.  At the  November meeting we will review our plans for 2018.

Support Meeting Tea at Strode Park Foundation

Awareness, Carer's Corner, Fun Event, General Support

We were invited on Sunday August 6th to visit Strode Park Foundation for tea and a walk around parts of the house and the grounds.

There were 12 of us attending and we enjoyed a fabulous tea of sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream and a selection of cakes.

John Cotterill addressing our group.

The sandwiches, scones and cakes were prepared at Strode Park by ??, all were beautifully fresh and delicious.  The tea was served by Anthony who thoroughly spoiled us.

We were shown around the grounds, Daren found a lake with a no fishing sign, which indicated to him there would be something worth catching.

The open air auditorium is a fantastic facility with every part accessible by wheelchair, we were invited to look at the website Strodeparkfoundation.co.uk to find out about concerts and booking them if we wished.

We were shown around non residential parts of the house, including the gymnasium and the hydro therapy pool, which is available to people living with disabilities including MND.

Daren looked up to catch this image of our group – most of us missed it!!

Huge thanks to John Cotterill who showed us around and to ?? and Anthony for making the tea so special.

We have been invited to have tea at Strode Park at some future date and we are welcome to attend any public events held at the Foundation.

 

 

Support Meeting – Flying Horse Boughton Aluph

Awareness, Carer's Corner, Fun Event, General Support

Following a fabulous meeting at The Flying Horse, last November.

We will have our next support meeting at this superb venue, on Saturday 11th February.?? The meeting will start at 11.00 and run until 13.00.

The Flying Horse, The Lees, Boughton Aluph TN25 4HH.

Full details?here?and??Directions here.

The Flying Horse has an excellent restaurant if anyone wishes to stay and enjoy lunch.

Bill Ashby RIP

Carer's Corner, General Support

William Ashby? 15/04/51 -21/11/16.

The funeral was held for William Ashby (affectionately known as Bill, or Pussy- Cat-Willum)? on 9th December 2016 at Charing Crematorium. His wife Peta and their children attended as well as many, many friends and family?the hearse was a wonderful old blue painted Chevrolet, his coffin?placed on the flat bed of the truck, was made by members of his family and lined with silk . The entourage of vehicles following the hearse included many vans from his business, and splendid Harley Davis out-riders.

The service was moving and intimate, with shared memories and reflected the very real sense of fun about this delightful man. There was subsequently a gathering at Little Silver Hotel in Tenterden attended by many of his family, friends, and colleagues.

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Follow this link to see the burning rubber send off https://www.facebook.com/royashmr2/videos/10154667174961101/

 

Group Correspondent required for MNDA East Kent

General Support, Volunteering

We need someone to act as our group correspondent, to respond to queries and direct emails to the appropriate member of our committee.

If you have the skills to send out agendas, take notes of meetings send out minutes, and a few hours you are willing to spare, we would love to hear from you.

Our meetings take place every other month in Canterbury.? The duties would be sending out agendas by email, attending meetings which last 2 hours and sending out minutes of those meetings by email.

Please email chair@mnda-eastkent.org.uk?or telephone 01843 579941.

You can view our web site at www.mnda-eastkent.org.uk to see what activities we are involved in.

Our main web site can be viewed at www.mndassociation.org

Thank you for reading, we hope to hear from you.