MS Society PIP Petition

Source MS Society:

Here's our PIP petition for Esther McVey: 4101 signatures and 624 MPs contacted (that's 96% of all MPs) - thank you all.

Read why it's needed - then share this post and spread the word http://bit.ly/VP1KcD

Only four more days to participate in this survey by the MS Society.......

Source MS Society:

Note: (Just completed the survey it's quick to do and interesting!  Please help to shape the future or MS research.)

The MS research field is huge - and so is the list of projects that could be funded. We believe the research we fund should answer the questions most important to people affected by MS.

To make this happen, we‘ve started a project to find your top 10 unanswered questions in MS research. They will become research priorities for ourselves and hopefully other funding bodies too.  For more click here.

Living with MS

Source BBC:
With ambitions of art school, no television in the family home and a grandfather trading in circus horses, a life on the stage wasn't an obvious career path for Alison Peebles. She talks to Ricky Ross about those early years and how living with multiple sclerosis gives even greater purpose to her work as an actress and director now.  Listen here.

Reading Post Wish Campaign Results!

Thank you to everyone who collected the Reading Post tokens for BMSTC. In total we collected 5,440 tokens and were awarded £574.79p. BMSTC were 6th out of 149 local charities who took part in the scheme! Great job everyone :0)))

Congratulations to our very good friends at Readibus who were the overall winners collecting 14,468 tokens and £1,528.70!!

Read more here!

Footcare at BMSTC

As you may know, Kayleigh Keen our footcare practitioner, will be going on maternity leave in the spring.   Her last working day with us will be the 20th March.

Ruth Best will be taking over her foot clinic at the Centre, and will offer appointments on a Thursday and Friday 9am - 1pm every other week, starting on the 4th and 5th April.

As usual, to make an appointment please speak to our receptionist or call us on 0118 901 6000.

Thank you!

Canine Partners

Source Sky News:

A lovely video shown on Sky News recently promoting Canine Partners.  Watch here.

Specialised services: have your say before the 25th January 2013

Source MS Trust:

Specialised services’ is an NHS jargon term for hospital-based provision for less common conditions and rare diseases. They are funded differently from most hospital services, and the way the money moves round the system is due to change a lot from April 2013 in England.  Read more here. 

Dr Faraz Jeddi running for BMSTC!

Source Get Reading:

A consultant is in training for the Mizuno Reading Half Marathon to raise money for the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre.
Dr Faraz Jeddi will be running his second half marathon for the West Reading charity and his eight-year-old daughter will also be doing her bit by taking part in the Green Park Challenge.  Read more here.

Ex-BBC radio presenter on his multiple sclerosis battle

Source BBC:
Former BBC Radio 4 presenter Mark Holdstock talks about the challenges of having been diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis.

The presenter, who once worked for Farming Today, explains how he is coping with the "devastating diagnosis" which was made a year ago.

BBC Inside Out North East and Cumbria is broadcast on BBC One on Monday, 21 January at 19:30 GMT and nationwide on the iPlayer for seven days thereafter.  Watch here.

Gender differences in autoimmune diseases: Blame them on bacteria?

Source Chicago Times:

Why are women more prone to autoimmune diseases like lupus, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis? A new study in mice points to a possible contributor: different types of bacteria that populate our guts.  Read more here.

MSRC become MS-UK

The Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre will become MS-UK from the 30th January 2013.

Read more here.

Multiple sclerosis takes Scott Mills' sidekick off air

Source BBC:

After five years working on air with Scott Mills, Beccy Huxtable is leaving her role on the Radio 1 afternoon show.

She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012 but hasn't spoken about it on the radio until now.
"I think it was important that people knew why I was going," she said. "If I can raise a bit of awareness, then that's all for the better.
"You don't want it to rule your life, so I'm going to make positive changes to stop it affecting me."

Read more here.

Limited service at BMSTC Friday 18th January 2013

BMSTC will operate a limited service on Friday 18th January due to the forecast of heavy snow throughout the day. 

We will aim to provide oxygen therapy at 10.00 and 11.30 a.m. and physio in the morning. The centre will close at 1.00 pm. Keep safe and warm everyone :0)

MS Society appoints Acting Chief Executive

Source MS Society:

The MS Society has appointed Patricia Gordon, the charity’s current Director for Northern Ireland, as its Acting Chief Executive.  For more click here.

Action for MS

Source MS Trust:

Action for MS outlines the specific areas in which we are currently involved to improve the services that people with multiple sclerosis receive from health services.  For more click here.

Makin Tracks - holidays for the disabled

"The website has been up-dated with details of our tours for this year. Places are filling up fast! Please have a look and let me know ASAP if you are interested in anything"

For more click here!

Exceptional holiday accommodation for people with disabilties, their families, friends and carers.

Located in the heart of beautiful rural Dorset in the peaceful hamlet of Woolland, Ellwood Cottages are outstanding conversions of three traditionally built barns, in a courtyard setting.

For more click here!

Disabled group urges benefit rethink

Source BBC:

Thousands of disabled people could lose some benefits because of last-minute changes to the new system of Personal Independence Payments, campaigners say.

The group, We Are Spartacus, said tougher rules to assess how far people can walk mean many claimants will lose help with transport from April.  For more click here.

We are Spartacus - Disabled people's views on welfare reform

We are Spartacus - On the day we publish Emergency Stop, a new report analysing the economic and social impact of the Personal Independence Payment regulations, we call on the Government to ‘go back to the drawing board’ on proposals to replace disability living allowance (DLA), after it buried last-minute changes to criteria which will see thousands more disabled people with mobility difficulties lose out than expected.  For more click here.

Oxford MS Research Update - 2nd March 2013

 

‘Oxford MS Research Update’

Saturday 2^nd March 2013

10.30 a.m. - 3.00 p.m. (lunch & refreshments included)

at

The Cathedral Suite,

Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel,

Abingdon Road, Oxford OX1 4PS

Overview:   

·        Presentations and Posters about MS Research undertaken in Oxford

·        Update on the new emerging therapies in MS

·        On-going projects and what is planned for the future

·        Opportunity to talk to members of the clinical and research team

·        Awards for Oxford MS Young Investigator Award and MS Inspiration Award

Directions:  http://oxford-spires-hotel.four-pillars.co.uk/contact-and-directions-_4/

For more information phone Ana or Rosie: 01865 231869

Please return slip below by 15^th February     or email mstrialsinfo@ndcn.ox.ac.uk  – MANY THANKS

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I would like to reserve            places (capacity is limited so please book early to reserve your place)

NAME: ­__________________________________

GUEST’S NAME: ______________________________

Dietary Requirements: _____________________________

Return Address: MS Trials, Neurosciences Offices, Level 3, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU                       

Multiple Sclerosis Inspiration Award 2013

For the MS inspiration of the year award we would like your nominations with a brief description for the reason of your nomination (max 300 words). This is to recognise the amazing achievements by someone who has volunteered, raised money for charity, developed services that have helped people with MS or is affected by MS but has been an inspiration to those around them.

 

My name: _________________________________

I would like to nominate__________________________________

Reason for this nomination:

Payment ‘cap’ on social care to be introduced

Source MS Society

 

The Government has announced that it plans to cap the "potentially huge cost" of social care for the elderly and those with disabilities living in England, but has not outlined what the cap will be or how it will be funded.

Some media reports suggest the cap will start at £75,000 - a figure which has not been confirmed by the Government. This means that people would need to self fund £75,000 of their care before being covered by Government funding.  Read more here.

How did you explain MS to your children?

Source MS Society:

Annie & Dan talk about MS is a ten minute DVD which features two puppets discussing MS. It is suitable for children under 10.

For more click here.

Scott Mills: Me and my mum are like best mates

Source Metro:

DJ Scott Mills, 38, started his career on local radio in Hampshire and now has an afternoon show in Radio 1. His mother has multiple sclerosis.

Read more here.

Research Request!

 I am looking for volunteers who can spare half an hour to talk to me about their MS and different therapies they have tried (eg hyperbaric oxygen therapy, physiotherapy, exercise etc). I am studying MS and investigating the way in which people can help each other and themselves for my final year university project, with an aim to increase the awareness and understanding of those with MS

They can contact me on my Facebook "Lara waycot" or email larawaycot@hotmail.co.uk

Thanks again
 
Lara

Tuesday Evening Physio Class

We are planning to start a Tues evening exercise class beginning 29th January. The class will be aimed at people who are still in employment and are unable to attend a regular exercise class at the centre. However people who are no longer working are also welcome to participate.

The class will run from 6-7pm with Emily and will be aimed at people who are able to participate in higher level activities. The class is designed to improve balance, strength, cardio vascular fitness, core stability and exercise tolerance.

The class will run for 6 weeks and continue if there is continued interest. For more info please call Emily on 0118 901 6000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0118 901 6000 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or email emily@bmstc.org