Motor Neurone Disease Association

Well, here we are, well into 2012 after a fairly quiet 2 months. I hope nobody thinks we’ve all hibernated! On the contrary, the committee is beginning to plan new events for the year and would also welcome ideas from anyone for fund raising events.Our big news is that we already have a new treasurer, Alastair Sharp, who kindly took over from John Farrington on February 1st. Alastair is very enthusiastic and has a wealth of experience in accounting and finance and is very keen to modernize our systems of accounting. We would also like to say a huge Thank You to John for 7 years of hard work for the branch, especially for the sterling work he did on recovering gift aid contributions. We have also been fortunate in finding a new secretary, Barbara Wills, who officially takes over in April, but has already been helping Gill and attending committee meetings. Again, we shall be thanking Gill for her wonderful devotion and hard work over the last 5 years at the AGM in April. We are very privileged to have Brian Dickie, Head of Research at National Office, speaking at the AGM on 16th April, so I hope that everyone will make a big effort to attend.

Our Christmas meeting on 28th November was a very happy affair with, as usual, an excellent attendance. We were entertained by the St. Richards Church Barber Shop Singers from Arundel, who looked very festive in their red waistcoats and were much applauded and were treated to a magnificent buffet provided by members. There was also a bountiful raffle, so that hardly any one went home empty handed. During the evening, a special presentation was made to Sue Gilson, a free-lance journalist, who had written two excellent reports about MND for the local papers. Many thanks to all who made the evening such a success and may I wish you all a very happy Christmas.

A big Thank You to all of you who attended my Autumn Quiz last night, especially the O’Hagens who came all the way down from Warwickshire for the evening! Everyone seemed to enjoy the evening and we made about £570.

I look forward to seeing you all on 28th November for our Christmas meeting at the Laurels with festive cheer, cold buffet and wine!

On the 4th September we held an art exhibition of Patrick Joyce’s wonderful portraits of “Incurable Optimists” in a marquee at Fontwell Racecourse. The management at Fontwell was extremely helpful and Julia Franklin (one of the incurable optimists painted) was interviewed during the races and able to tell the thousands of racegoers all about MND and the exhibition. As a result, collections held at the gates as people went home, raised about £880 for our branch.

Last Saturday, Myra Gibbs had organised a coffee morning in the East Wittering village hall, which was very well attended and raised the incredible sum of about £1100! Myra baked dozens of cakes, knitted and crocheted scarves and other articles and made cards herself to sell, as well as enlisting many local people to help. It was also a great venue for selling our own MND Christmas cards, which proved very popular.

I am now busy organising the Autumn Quiz on the 5th November at Aldingbourne for those not attending riotous firework parties! Please ring me to book your tickets for this popular event, where you can also enjoy fish and chips and a raffle.

We have had several pieces of good news lately. A new secretary and treasurer have been found to take over from Gill and John next year and 2 new visitors have completed their training recently. Also the Cowdray Golf Club at Midhurst has adopted us as their Charity of the Year, the third golf club to do so this year.

Lastly, Julia and I attended the National Conference and AGM at Stanstead Airport in September. This was the largest conference to date with 45 people living with MND attending and the first delegation from Northern Ireland. What an inspiring conference to give us the necessary enthusiasm to carry on the good work!

You may be forgiven for thinking you’re on the website of Chichester Theater, where “Singing in the Rain” is showing at the moment! I am, of course, referring to our Summer Fair last Sunday, when the heavens opened for most of the day, but spirits were kept high by the children from Tangmere Primary School, who came to dance for us and performed with their Rumba Band. George’s Regis Jazz Band also played valiantly outside, under a large gazebo and the more intrepid visitors ventured outside with large umbrellas to grab a hot dog and listen to the band.

We were fortunate to have the use of a large hall belonging to the Westbourne House School, where all the stalls and activities had to be moved inside, but, although visitor numbers were severely restricted by the rain, spirits were high in the hall, especially as we were fortunate to have Christopher Timothy who, not only opened the fair, but also stayed around long enough to speak to everyone and visit all the stalls. In spite of the delicious teas, cakes and ice creams and all the hard work put in by all the helpers, I was disappointed that we only raised about £1100. However, we did meet several new people, who offered their support to the branch and everyone who came commented on the friendly atmosphere in the hall.

During the same wet weekend, Anne-Marie Palmer and her sister, Sue Zirps, completed the Jurassic Coast Walk, raising £1800 for our branch. What a great achievement!

Last week I visited the ladies of the Foxbridge Golf Club near Plaistow, who have nominated us as their charity of the year and held an Edwardian Golf Tournament and tea. They have raised at least £1500 so far and, I gather, there is more to come. They also presented me with a cheque for £500 from their sponsors, Rathbones.

Tomorrow is the Broadwater Carneval in Worthing and they have kindly agreed to nominate us as one of their charities. We then have several collections outside Tesco stores coming up so, if you feel that your talents lie in standing (or sitting) outside a store holding a tin, I would be delighted to hear from you!

On September 4th we will be holding a very special art exhibition at Fontwell Racecourse. I don’t know all the details yet so, watch this space!

Sue.

Well – how time flies when you’re having fun! As I write this the rain is pouring down but, fortunately, we’ve been lucky with the weather for our activities so far!

The Bluebell walk was a great success, raising about £1700, and everyone enjoyed a last glimpse of the rapidly fading bluebells and a wonderful walk, followed by a delicious lunch, thanks to Lady Sarah Clutton, Helen, Ulla and the other helpers.

On June 3rd, Dennis and Kitty had organised a wonderful concert at Slindon College to celebrate Dennis’s 80th birthday, with Dennis showing us the results of his singing lessons. He was well able to hold his own with professional singers, pianists, a young violinist and an actor reciting Sussex poems. A magical evening!

Both Caroline Wilson and Sue Foley opened their gardens in Fittleworth and Slindon and sold teas in aid of MND. I know how much work goes into the preparation of these events and our thanks goes out to them both.

On the more strenuous side, Anne-Marie Palmer did an “Iron man” swim in the Arun river from Arundel to Littlehampton – what an achievement!

On a more relaxing note, John took another group out on the wheelchair boat at Cobnor, around the Chichester harbour, cleverly choosing the one beautiful day this week! For those of you who missed this, there is another (and maybe the last trip) on 12th July.

On Friday, 24th July, Angela Burgess is holding a “Pimms and Prawns” evening in her lovely garden in Steyning. Tickets are £10 from Angela 01903 812172 or Helen 01903 814493.

AND DON’T FORGET THE SUMMER FAIR ON 17th JULY!
Download A4 Poster (right hand click and choose ‘save target as’)

Preparations are going well but we still need help, cakes, bric-a-brac, etc. so please contact me 01243 544241 if you can help in any way.

We have lots of exciting things planned for the Autumn, so WATCH THIS SPACE!

Sue.

Now that Spring is finally here, our committee is very busy planning events for the late Spring and Summer, the first big event being the Bluebell Walk on Saturday 30th April. Those of you who have spent all day in front of the TV watching the Royal Wedding, will welcome the chance to stretch your legs and to enjoy a delicious lunch in Lady Sarah Clutton’s beautiful barn near Arundel.- check the website for more details  later.

Help is particularly needed for our Summer Fair on Sunday, 17th July. We need strong men and women to help us erect gazebos and tables on the Saturday and Sunday mornings, drivers to help transport bric-a-brac, books and other items for the stalls, people to help on the stalls, serving the teas, directing the traffic and people to help clear up at the end, when the rest of us are exhausted! We will also need cakes, tombola prizes, books and bric-a-brac. Please let me know if you feel you can help in any way.

And, finally, don’t forget the AGM on 28th March and your nominations for people to be on the committee.

We have added some more events for this coming April, June and July.

The February newsletter is also on line now

Martin Rowe gave a witty and moving account of tackling Mt Kilimanjaro. This was accompanied by a series of superb slides which brought home the amazing, but sometimes unglamorous, reality of the undertaking. On the basis that if Chris Moyles could climb Kilimanjaro then so could he, Martin signed up, sought sponsors and speedily organised a number of fundraisers in advance of the trip. As he showed the training schedule to his local gym they looked him up and down and said “So you‟ll be coming in every day then!”…………..Read more in the newsleter (see archived newsletter page)

Happy New Year!

May I wish all our readers (rather belatedly) a very happy 2011. We hope to be having many new fund-raising events and hope to provide as much assistance and advice to our local people living with MND as possible. We look forward to hearing from you with your queries and suggestions and I hope to see as many of you as possible during the coming year.

With very best wishes

Sue Krueger, Chairman.