VOLUNTEERS WEEK 1ST- 7TH JUNE 2011
AND THAT’S WHEN THE FIGHT STARTED
As some of you will know the start of summer did not bring out the sun.
On Wednesday 1st June, what it did do was bring out, onto Church Street, some strange creatures dressed in blue t-shirts and other fantastic garments in order to attract people to their nest, (disguised as a blue bucket with Neurosupport logo on), with the hope that they might linger long enough to leave something for us in the way of money and although the sun didn’t shine too much that day the response, to what I think was our very first street collection you may want to correct me if you wish, was a very respectable £458 and a few pence. For me though, I thought I had wandered into H.G. Wells’ book “The Invisible Man”, which is how I felt on a number of occasions, but again I have wandered off the plot. If anyone is keeping a running total in their head of money raised so far, at around £2,600, it is not a bad start to the year. Although for you accountants out there the year starts in April as we all know, why is that? Who decided that all those years ago is a mystery to me!! A big thank you to the staff who kept us in check and showed us how not to shake a bucket (What a lot of rules!!) and to those staff & ourselves for (maybe!) volunteering that extra shift to collect, also the Working Life clients who came along.
Talking of t-shirts, some of you may have voted for a new design courtesy of Chris Wall. It was in the last letter from Carolyn, where I managed to miss completely, the bit about telephone training being held on the afternoon of 2nd June, only to realise as I am writing this article on the morning of that day. I have to do regular re-caps now as my memory is failing along with a few other things, see I am easily led astray, it’s a good job I have Sue to make sense of my scribbling. Back to the plot and new tee shirts, how did we do? Joint first with Muscular Dystrophy, even though our score on hits was a lot more, (Mulder and Scully of the X Files have taken on the case) the work that we all did has a least earned us part of the prize 10 tee-shirts with the new design and £250 in vouchers for John Lewis. So thank you everyone who took part in our little challenge. So I hear you say what about the fight?
WHEN THE FIGHT STARTED PART 2
It all started as a man was taking pictures near our stand in Church Street (picture on page1 before the fight) when someone from Poundland takes exception and that’s when the fight started which resulted in Neurosupport needing a new pull-up display, good job the old one was very old and due to retire soon, (next to the field where old horses go but without the hay). The result was 3 police cars, a police van and very big crowd but Frank of Working Life, as usual, was able to adapt to the situation and helped the incident by passing amongst the crowd with one of our buckets, who said crime didn’t pay!! Alan Clark.
BBQ THE SECOND IS NOW ELECTED ON 5th JUNE
As I listened to the wireless, I told you I was old, it would seem that this time next year we will again have an extra days holiday as the Queen celebrates 60 years on the throne. However our BBQ is only 2 years old and how did our celebrations go, very well, but sadly, the attendance was down on the first year but I am glad I went as it was good to catch up, eat, talk, relax and drink, the last part I thought I had started early. When we were on the bus coming to the centre, just by Lark Lane, a man in a pink wig and shorts joined the bus and was the result of I would say a few stares. Why someone of around 70+ would be dressed like that, however it all became apparent as he met one of his friends later on in the journey and explained that he had been walking around Sefton Park to raise money and awareness for cancer. It’s amazing how people tell their life story on a 10 minute bus journey, but it is something I can relate to, as those are the sort of conversations I have in the Walton Centre when people just want to talk. Talking of the Walton Centre, our “desk” will shortly be on the move again away from being toilet monitor and café extension to the space just along side the new reception area, where some settees are at the moment. I am aware that some of you, as patients, along with us volunteers, have been asking “what are we doing here”. Maureen and Kathryn recently met with the new Chief Exec of the Walton Centre, to raise the problems we have had since the refurbishment, and a move should take place soon, although we do not have a date yet. Oh! Yes we do, see picture on page 4. But back to our BBQ, the food and company worked for me. It was good to see Phil and a few others I don’t normally get the chance to talk to, unless we meet at a volunteers meeting. I managed to have a quick chat to Tracy’s friend, Susan, who won the £25 M&S voucher from our monthly draw, (don’t forget to see if you can sell the tickets when you are working in the centre). Thanks to all who turned up and to the staff who seemed to have it all sorted out this year without any burning of food or the building although the fire station is only down the road. Here’s to next year when we have that extra days holiday to celebrate our Queens 60 years on the throne, as well as our centres celebration year of being 20 years old. With that in mind plans are already underway for 2012, but if you have any thoughts as to what we should do to celebrate bring it up at the next volunteers meeting or mention it to Alec. Alan Clark
ANY GIVEN SUNDAY IN WARRINGTON AND DAD APPEARS
For new and old volunteers this particular Sunday was 10th July, when some of us volunteered for a day out in Warrington, this picture (showing Liz and Geoff amongst the crowds) comes from the website of DAD (Disability Awareness Day) and with crowds of around 25,000 coming through the doors you can see why we attend every year and with our “new” tombola in full swing we again raised £155. The day for me started with taking the wrong exit on the motorway ending up in an industrial estate, then getting soaked when I left the car park to head to the event, where I managed to take a wrong turn when helping Maureen unload her car what a great start!!. I was struck by the contrast later when I went to see my great-nephew, age 9 and a bit, play a football tournament, a six team event with winners and losers. Although his team did not win a game the enjoyment of taking part and running about until they could not run anymore was a joy to watch, so very different from some of the children I saw earlier in the day who might never have the chance to play football. Truly, a day of 2 halves as they say .
John Evans, one of our volunteers who works at the Walton centre sent me this report and picture which relates to the condition MGA of which John is the chair of the Liverpool branch.
Presentation to the Walton Neurological hospital
On Wednesday 25th May 2011, the Merseyside branch of the Myasthenia Gravis Association presented a cheque for £23,023 to the Walton Neurological Centre in Liverpool. Myasthenia Gravis is an auto immune condition, causing a muscle weakness illness and affects one in every 10,000 people in the U.K. It will enable the hospital to purchase a blood testing bio-bank to enable diagnosis of this debilitating illness. The only system of this type, to test for particular types of MG is in Oxford.
The picture on the right is the new area for our patient information desk at the Walton Centre. We moved on 21st July, but still to join us is the computer, printer, notice board and our sign has yet to be moved, but a great improvement on the last move.
