2016 has been an interesting and successful year for MND Association East Kent Group.
The year started with a party at the Wrotham Arms in Broadstairs, followed in very short order by a Support meeting in Folkestone and a visit to Westminster where 6 people affected by MND addressed some 42 Parliamentarians.
Young Carers Awareness Day was also in January, which was followed by the Burns Night Supper at BinElla in Faversham.
Mark and Katy Styles spoke to the Psychology Society at the University of Kent on Tuesday 23rd February.
During April The Campaigning Toolkit, the brainchild of East Kent’s?Katy Styles was launched, A Masquerade Dinner in Tenterden raised almost ?10,000 and the?South Coast Road?Trip tee shirts went on sale, together with announcements of the events in East Kent.
A brilliant Spring Lunch was held in May and the press release for the South Coast Road Trip was sent to all media outlets.
June was the month of the South Coast Road Trip with 19 events in 17 days as Clive and Lynn Hudson travelled by public buses from Broadstairs to Land’s End, raising over ?10,000 and also creating great awareness of MND in the process.
The Clock Tower in Herne Bay was lit up with MND colours and MND awareness day and The Podplus 5K run was yet again a success was a successful run raising funds for MND in East Kent.
Campaigning were busy at Parliament for a Carer’s Week Reception representing pwMND and their carers.
In August Summer was in the air with great music at the Broadstairs Summer Hop at The Pavilion, which followed on into the evening at the Wrotham Arms.? Daren Edwards was catching enormous fish in France and the signed road trip shirt went on display at David Niven House.
Katy Styles addressed The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)? Campaigning Conference on September 3rd, being the only volunteer to address the meeting.? On the same day Judy Keay attended Project Respect, which?is the MND Association?s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy ? and?all members are encouraged to help shape it.
Clive Hudson, Mark? and Katy Styles attended the annual conference of the MND Association held in Derby on Saturday 10th September.? Please see https://mnda-eastkent.org.uk/wordpress/?p=1849 for full details.
Anne Pomeroy walked 100KM along the Thames raising ?1650.93 for MND Association East Kent.
The Co-op run from River to Mill Hill was on 30th September.? The run followed the diagnosis of MND given to local lady Linda Clarke.? The run raised over ?1000 for MND. See https://mnda-eastkent.org.uk/wordpress/?p=1876 for more information.
We held a volunteer recruitment day in Canterbury in early October, the event was an interesting experience and we learned much about how to present any future recruitment day. Unfortunately it was a foul day and we were not successful in gaining any new volunteers.
Judy Keay, Chrissie Batts and Mark and Katy Styles attended a Parliamentary Reception on October 18th, representing the East Kent Group.
They all spoke with?Julian Brazier, MP for Canterbury and Whitstable who attended and promised to follow up the points made at the reception, and other MP’s at the reception. ?Mark and Katy also spoke to the Minister, Penny Mordaunt about their concerns .
During November we were encouraging people to complete a survey about the financial impact of MND further information https://mnda-eastkent.org.uk/wordpress/?p=1898
Our year ended by funding the installation of a hoist for Martin living with MND, making a contribution to our CEO annual appeal and enjoying a wonderful Christmas Lunch at Yarrow Hotel in Broadstairs.
Apologies for any errors or omissions please contact webmaster@mnda-eastkent.org.uk