'the part of life we really live is small - and all the rest of existence is not life but merely time'

Source MS Trust:
WORDS written 2,000 years ago keep Jeannie Hignell from dwelling on the past and indeed from wasting time wondering what the future might bring.

Married to the former BBC sports commentator Alastair Hignell, once a top-flight sportsman and now disabled by multiple sclerosis (MS), she understands all too well that no one can predict the future.
Read more here.

BMSTC Christmas Fayre, 19th November 1.00 - 3.30 pm

Date for your diary - the BMSTC Christmas Fayre will be held on Saturday 19th November between 1.00pm and 3.30pm here at the Centre.

The event will be officially opened by Reading MP Alok, Sharma!

Come along and buy all of your Christmas goodies! For more information see our events page here!

Request from MS Specialist Nurse, Annette Leach.

We've had a note from Annette Leach, our local MS Specialist Nurse, who says "I have a patient who wants to link in with another person with MS who is experiencing similar symptoms to her self.
She is experiencing giddiness which can cause vomiting but also distorted vision which is ther all the time, which does not help her giddiness. Are you able to put something out on your link so that they can contact this lady who lives in newbury, through me?" If you can help please email Annette.Leach@royalberkshire.nhs.uk

Petition launched to allow disabled people access to all on street parking bays 24/7

Earlier this year Reading Borough Council instigated a number of changes to disabled parking bays and the times during which they can be accessed.

These changes include restricting access to the majority of the on road bays immediately surrounding the town centre so that they may only be accessed from 11am to 4pm and again after 7pm.

The roads most affected are St Mary's Butts, West Street and Friar Street

This has made it unreasonably difficult for many disabled people to access the shops and other facilities in the town.  For more click here.

Mouse stem cells guided into producing millions of myelinating cells

Source MS Trust:
Researchers in the USA have developed a procedure which allows them to rapidly produce large numbers of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from mouse stem cells in the laboratory.  For more click here.

Have you thought about leaving a legacy?

Have you thought about leaving a legacy to BMSTC? You may not have £1.6m but every little helps! A legacy is probably the most effective single way to support our work – and you need not send any money as long as you live!   For more information please click here.

Midwife leaves £1.6m to charity

Source BBC:
A former midwife from the north east of Scotland has left £1.6m to a multiple sclerosis charity.  For more click here.

Have you thought about leaving a legacy to BMSTC?  You may not have £1.6m but every little helps! 
A legacy is probably the most effective single way to support our work – and you need not send any money as long as you live!  For more information click here.

Thank you to everyone who attended Walking for MileS 2011!

Thank you very much to all of our walkers, marshals and volunteers who came along yesterday for our Walking for MileS event in Henley. We had a fantastic day and the weather was perfect! We would also like to thank the River and Rowing museum for the use of the wonderful facilities and for their generous hospitality. Now we have to wait for the sponsorship money to roll in! We will post the total raised in a few weeks time :0)

Wokingham Area Access Group

Welcome to waag.co.uk - home of the official disability access guide and accessibility award schemes for the Wokingham, Berkshire area.  Visit our website http://www.waag.co.uk/

Time to get your flu vaccine

Source Department of Health:
Don’t wait until flu is circulating – protect yourself now
From Monday 3 October, GPs will be seeing millions of people in at risk groups to have their flu vaccine, Chief Medical Officer Dame Professor Sally Davies today announced.  For more click here.

Talking Therapies

Problems such as anxiety, depression, stress and phobias are very common. Talking Therapies is a friendly and approachable service that helps people with these problems.
For more click here.

MS campaigner secures Lib Dem support for ESA improvements

Source MS Society:

A speech delivered by campaigner Shoshana Pezaro, who has MS, has encouraged Party MPs to challenge regressive welfare reform.  Click here for more.

Many U.S. black men short on vitamin D

Source UPI.com

Black men living in U.S. areas where there is low sunlight are more than three times more likely than white men to have vitamin D deficiency, researchers say.

Dr. Adam Murphy, a clinical instructor in urology at Northwestern University Feinberg School in Chicago and a physician at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, said vitamin D deficiency causes brittle bones and has been linked to prostate cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.  Read more here.

The mystery of MS and its prevalence in Canada

Source CBA:
Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world, according to an international survey. 

The 2008 Atlas of Multiple Sclerosis showed MS strikes 133 out of every 100,000 people in Canada, the fifth highest rate among countries surveyed between 2004 and 2005.   Read more here.

NICE consultation on CCSVI closed on 21 September

Source MS Trust:
The Interventional Procedure Advisory Committee of NICE has met, examined the evidence for use of this intervention in CCSVI in MS and made draft recommendations. These have been available for public comment though the NICE website since 24 August.  For more click here.

Millionaires mach fund - double your donation to BMSTC!

Source Reading Chronicle:

THE Chronicle is launching an exclusive county-wide Match Fund appeal to make charities, community groups and other good causes a staggering £50,000 better off. 

If you want to donate to BMSTC and get your donation mached then visit our LocalGiving page here!  http://localgiving.com/charity/bmstc

Digital Unite Learning Zone

A great resource for all of your I.T. needs!

Whether you’d like to improve your computer skills, emailing, smartphone or internet confidence, our simple guides are here for you to teach yourself or support other learners.  For more click here.

Last call for Walking for MileS 2011!

The weather forecast is good, so come and join us for a lovely day out at Henley-on-Thames this Sunday, 25th September :0)

More details available here:
http://www.bmstc.org/Events/Walking-for-Miles-2011.aspx

Alternatively call Jackie on 0118 901 6000 or email jackie@bmstc.org.

We hope to see you there :0)

Adeona Announces Completion of Planned Enrollment in Phase II Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Trial

Source PR Newswire:
 Adeona Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX: AEN), a developer of innovative medicines for serious central nervous system diseases, announced today that the 150th patient has been enrolled in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center clinical trial of its Trimesta™ (oral estriol) drug candidate for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in women, per the original protocol.  Read more here.

Breaching the Blood-Brain Barrier

Source Bioscience Technology:
Cornell University researchers may have solved a 100-year puzzle: How to safely open and close the blood-brain barrier so that therapies to treat Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and cancers of the central nervous system might effectively be delivered.  Read more here.

MS and me is Highly Commended at the 2011 BMA Patient Information Awards

Source MS Trust:
Congratulations to the MS Trust :0)

"The BMA patient information awards aim to encourage the production, dissemination and evaluation of accessible, evidence-based and well-designed patient information which will promote both greater awarenes and understanding of health matters, and patient choice." For more click here.

Government to time limit Employment Support Allowance

Source MS Society:
This weekend letters will posted to 170,000 disabled people informing them their ESA will be stopped as early as April next year.
The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) plans to introduce a time limit of one year for all but the most seriously ill people claiming ESA.  they are urging people to take action and write to their MP's.  See more here.



New Type of Spinal Cord Stem Cell Discovered

Source Bioscience Technology:
A group led by a University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health scientist has discovered a type of spinal cord cell that could function as a stem cell, with the ability to regenerate portions of the central nervous system in people with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease).  Read more here.

Help shape neurology services in Hampshire

Source MS Trust:
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking the views of people with a neurological condition.
A meeting on Tuesday 11 October will look at what people think of current services and what would be needed from new neurological services.  For more click here.

Walking for MileS 2011

Don't forget to send in your entry for our Walking for MileS event in Henley on Sunday 25th Setpember.  For more details see our events page here.

New website aims to clear up misconceptions about breakthrough drug Low Dose Naltrexone

Source WebWire:

A new website has been launched by the MedInsight Research Institute to offer physicians and patients across the world the very latest information on clinical trials using Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN).   Read more here.

NICE proposes changes to treatment recommendations for neuropathic pain

Source MS Trust:

NICE published a guideline for the pharmacological management of neuropathic pain in adults in non-specialist settings in March 2010.  Read more here.

Cash boost for stem cell research

Source BBC:

A new fund is being set-up to help pay for stem cell research in Scotland.

Medical charity the UK Stem Cell Foundation (UKSCF) has launched a bid to raise £5m over the next three years.  For mroe click here.

Open House raising funds for BMSTC

Sunday 2nd October, Open House in Woodley, Reading. Selling jewellery, cards, tea and cakes to raise money for BMSTC. See link to our events page for more details here :0)

Charity concert in aid of BMSTC

Charity concert on Sunday 2nd October at 7.30pm at The Rose Theatre in Ascot raising funds for BMSTC. Mozart, Beethoven, James Butt and Karl Stamitz.   See our events page for more information http://www.bmstc.org/Events/Charity-Concert.aspx 

Older Carers need more support

Source BBC:

GPs throughout the UK should be giving more support to carers who are aged over 60, a charity says.

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers says family doctors should offer older carers an annual health check, including screening for depression.  Read more here.

Double your Money with the help of Localgiving.com

Double your Money with the help of Localgiving.com.
Today the Berkshire Community Foundation are matching any donation to the MS Centre, (up to £2,500), so if you intend to make a donation to us in the next two weeks, simply to into the the website above and make it there :)  http://localgiving.com/berkshire

Gilly Cannon is walking the Inca Trail for BMSTC!

One person who loves walking will not be taking part in the Walking for MileS event in Henley in 2 weeks, and that's because Gilly Cannon will be doing the Inca Trail for the Centre instead!

If you would like to sponsor him, please make a donation on his just giving page or leave a donation the reception. www.justgiving.com/gilly-cannon

New guide launched on short breaks and respite

Source MS Society:
Our new publication Short breaks: a guide to short breaks and respite for people affected by MS offers high quality information on a wide range of options for people considering short breaks and respite care.  For more click here.

David Walliams Thames Swim

David Walliams will be attempting to swim from Wallingford to Henley today, you should be able to cheer him on through Reading later on today, Caversham Lock would be a good place! You can follow his progress throughout the day on Twitter! :0)
https://www.sportrelief.com/donate/walliams

Source BBC Radio 4:
Coming up next Wednesday at 8.45pm Radio 4

"Scotland has the highest rate of Multiple Sclerosis in the world. This progressive neurological disease can lead to disability, balance problems and paralysis. But Scotland also happens to be the centre of research into MS, much of it focussing on a new generation of drugs which could help the body heal itself."  For more click here.

Source BBC Radio 4:
Alastair Hignell features in this broadcast available on BBC iPlayer.
"Alastair Hignell CBE was a gifted sportsman who played rugby for England and county cricket for Gloucestershire. Forced to retire early through injury, he turned, via teaching, to broadcasting, becoming a commentator for both the BBC and ITV. In 1999 he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. In his book 'Higgy: Matches, Microphones and MS' he tells of his journey of discovery about living with disability. 'Higgy: Matches, Microphones and MS' is published by Bloomsbury."  To listen click here.

BMSTC Webshop

Don't forget our webshop! Help raised money for BMSTC at no extra cost to you by using our Buy.at BMSTC webshop! :0)

http://www.buy.at/bmstc

Botox Could be New Treatment for Those Suffering from Incontinence

Source San Francisco Chronicle:
"Some patients who have neurological conditions are unable to store urine in the bladder because it is overactive. Botox can be used to relax the bladder so that patients have more muscle control and less leakage."  Read more here.

Cannabis drug in UK cancer trials

Source The BBC:A cannabis-based medicine is to be given to advanced cancer patients in Greater Manchester.

The study will be the first time Sativex has been used in cancer treatment in a UK hospital.  See more here.

Walking for MileS 2011

Less than three weeks to go before the Walking for MileS event starting and finishing at Henley River & Rowing Museum. If you havent sent your entry form in yet, please do it now and avoid a queue of the day!
Get more information here!

Decision Tree - Help & Advice on Housing & Care Services for Older People

Our unique ‘one stop’ service run by an independent Social Worker and a Fellow of the Institute of Housing, provides older people and their families with expert advice and information about residential, sheltered and extra care housing and social care provision. http://www.dectree.co.uk/

New Guide to getting the most from your GP Practice

A "one stop shop" guide to help patients get the most from their GP practice has been launched by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).  Read more here.

MS Trust expresses concerns about NICE guidance on fingolimod

Source MS Trust:
NICE (National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence) issued its draft guidance on 5 August 2011. The guidance stated that fingolimod is not recommended for the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.  Read more here.

Starving Inflammatory Immune Cells Slows Damage Caused by Multiple Sclerosis

Source Biscience Technology:
In a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, a pair of researchers at the University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences report that inhibiting the ability of immune cells to use fatty acids as fuel measurably slows disease progression in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS).   Read more here.

Walking for MileS 2011 - Sunday 25th September Henley-on-Thames

Entries are starting to come in for this years Walking for MileS on Sunday 25th September starting at the River and Rowing Museum in Henley-on-Thames. If you would like to join this sponsored walk or perhaps help out as a volunteer on the day then see link above for more information or email jackie@bmstc.org For more information see our website here!

Neils Tysabri Diary

Source the MS Resource Centre:

Interesting diary from Neil.  Read more here.

The Switchover Help Scheme can help you make the switch to digital TV.

We can help you convert your TV to digital if you:- are aged 75 or over; or
- get or could get Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance,
- Constant Attendance Allowance or mobility supplement; or
- have lived in a care home for six months or more; or
- are registered blind or partially sighted..

Check now to see if you could be eligible

Berkshire Community Foundation team up with Localgiving.com

The Berkshire Community Foundation has teamed up with Localgiving.com to create a £25,000 fund to match donations to Berkshire charities and community groups donated through the Localgiving.com website.

From 9am on 12th to 30th September, we will be matching pound for pound from the Localgiving.com Berkshire Match Fund (subject to conditions and until it the £25,000 is fully allocated) on Localgiving.com.  See the BMSTC page here!

How to particiapate in a research study

Source: Shift MS

Most of my time involves recruiting patients for potential research studies. But a large proportion of my time is taken up answering questions and queries from people with MS, who aren’t ‘known’ patients to our trust, who want to be part of a research trial (and to be a patient of Professor Giovannoni’s).  Read more here.

New Study Is The First North American Clinical Trial To Test Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation As A New Therapy For MS

Source Medical News Today:
A team of researchers at three landmark Cleveland institutions have come together to launch a new clinical trial of an experimental treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, and Case Western Reserve University are collaborating on a ground-breaking study that will test the feasibility and safety of using the body's own stem cells to treat MS. Read more here!

MS Society launch new website!

Take a look at the new MS Society website!


Click here!

Thank you to Sharon Curtis and friends at the Good Companion Pub

Many thanks to Sharon Curtis and friends at the Good Companion Pub who raiased a fabulous £,1030 for the Centre when they organised a Family Fun Day earlier this month. Special thanks to Alan Beesley (AJ) who masterminded the event. but was unable to attend the presentation