MSRC News

We at the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre would like to keep you informed of what we are doing, what is being done for us, and in all honesty, how we are doing.

These pages will let you know a little about us, and what we are doing as an organisation. 

Pages for MSRC News from previous years can be accessed below:

• MSRC News Archive 2011
• MSRC News Archive 2010
• MSRC News Archive 2009
• MSRC News Archive 2008   

30th May 2012

World MS Day is one day of the year we ask everyone to ‘Go Green’ to help raise awareness of MS and support the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre.

There are numerous things you can do and help spread awareness of MS and hopefully raise some funds along the way too!

We have loads of ideas to help you, such as:

• Wear something GREEN, such as t-shirts, wigs, tie or nail varnish
• Wear your ‘Life is for Living’ wristband (only £1.60 inc P+P UK available from our online webshop or call the MSRC office 01206 226500)
• Have a GREEN Tea morning with friends or family
• Dress down GREEN day at work, school or college
• Eat GREEN jelly, cakes or apples
• Hold a fancy dress GREEN party

If you would like a fundraising pack full of ideas of how to ‘Go Green’ then please email Paula at paula@msrc.co.uk or phone 01206 226500 This includes some posters, green ideas, collection box, some balloons and information about MS.

Wednesday 30th May not convenient? Don’t worry any day can be your Green Day!

What are you waiting for, contact us now and start planning how you will ‘Go Green’.

The only limit is your imagination!

Last year, Helen Yates, chief executive of the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre, was left fighting for her life.

Doctors discovered she had a brain tumour the size of a tennis ball and she underwent a 12 hour life-saving operation.

Today, Helen is fit and healthy and looking forward excitedly to opening of the MSRC’s new headquarters and an MS centre of excellence – both of which have been made possible thanks to the generosity of others.

The national Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre moved its base to Stanway in 2000 into rented offices at the Peartree Business Centre.

“It had an office and a stock room and a small office at the back which didn’t have any windows,” said Helen.

“We outgrew it and even manoeuvring cars around the car park was a drain on our time.”

Then the MSRC received a legacy which was to change everything.

Penny Unsworth, who had MS, left the charity £225,000.

Helen said: “She had used a number of our services and obviously believed strongly in what we were doing.

“She felt we had been helpful and supportive to her.

“We were the sole beneficiaries of her will and it was incredible.”

The MSRC bought a property at Hythe Quay in Colchester and has called it Unsworth House in Penny’s memory.

It was positively luxurious by comparison to the office unit in Stanway, five times the size and with its own car parking.

More importantly, it secured the future of the charity’s head office and allowed it to expand.

About 100,000 people in the UK are affected by the chronic, disabling neurodegenerative disease MS.

To them, the MSRC offers impartial advice and information as well as face-to-face and telephone counselling.

Helen added: “We will do anything we can to help and support people affected by MS and their families and carers.

“Our focus is life is for the living and everything we do is to help people with MS live the life whey want to the best way there are able to.”

The spacious offices face on to a courtyard and to its left is another building.

Thanks to more good fortune, the MSRC has been able to take that too, with plans to create a centre of excellence for MS sufferers.

Helen said: “There is a family called the Josephs who we know well. David Joseph raised £15,000 for us in the London Marathon.

“The head of the family, John, called me and said, ‘We want to finance £100,000 for you’.

“It was incredible. I felt absolutely floored by the offer and it meant we were able to move forward with our plans much faster than we had hoped.”

Mr Joseph said he wanted the money to be spent on a property and so the charity began negotiating to buy the building next door.

The MSRC has paid £60,000 of the cost and the Josephs family are paying the rest through a mortgage over the next ten years.

The building, which is to be called Joseph’s Court, will be transformed into a centre of excellence and will be fitted out with £20,000 of physiotherapy equipment for use by people with MS.

Negotiations are also ongoing to buy state-of-the-art equipment costing £10,000, which will stimulate sufferers’ muscles electronically.

Helen said: “It allows them to use their muscles when they can’t do so themselves.

“It helps with circulation and digestion and keeps muscles toned even when they are not used.”

In addition, Joseph’s Court will be used for tai chi, socialising, counselling and anything which enriches the lives of people with MS.

Helen added: “We want to hear from people what they would like to have there.”

Helen is a positive, determined woman, a force of nature.

She pays tribute to her team and the “fantastic and incredible” fundraisers who keep the charity moving forwards.

Unsworth House and Joseph’s Court will officially be opened on May 30.

Further information on MSRC and its services can be obtained via their website or by telephoning 01206 226500.

Source: Essex County Standard © Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group (08/03/12)

© Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre (MSRC)