South Yorkshire Branch News
Welcome to the News page of the South Yorkshire Branch.
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From August 2007 the Branch will have this new website to offer as an addition to our other services, and we hope it will prove to be both useful and informative to all who use it. We intend to keep the content up to date, to bring you news of our regular meetings in Sheffield and Rotherham and of other Social or Fund raising events which are arranged throughout the year. The quarterly News Letter, which this site has been set up to complement, will of course continue to be sent out.
If you have anything to share for either the News letter or web siteplease contact :-
Michael Hickman at mhickman@blueyonder.co.uk
Welcome to our Autumn Newsletter
We would like to extend a warm welcome to any new members of the South Yorkshire Branch who are reading this for the first time. We send out our newsletter every three months to keep you up to date with events within the Motor Neurone Disease Association, both locally and nationally. Almost 300 copies of the newsletter are posted out to Branch Members, Health Care Professionals and others around
The
You can find it at www.mndsouthyorkshire.org
Michael
Chairman’s Report
Inspite of the wretched summer we have been surprisingly lucky with the weather for our outdoor functions, or at least relatively so. It was a great turnout for the “Walk to Defeat” and the rain held off just long enough for everyone to complete the course; everyone that is except Alf Green and Elaine who unfortunately arrived a bit late and very sensibly decided to have a cup of tea, listen to the band and wait for us all to come back. It was particularly nice to see Diane and Chris and to hear all about their wedding plans and their honeymoon in
The evening in the Botanical Gardens was perfect and the Gardens were absolutely lovely; they really do get better each year we go. Susan Turner organised it as usual and guided us round. She also provided a splendid finger buffet for us in the school room at the bottom of the gardens. Thank you very much Susan; it was a most enjoyable occasion.

The garden party also was a great success and I do thank everybody who braved the gale force winds to make it all worth while; we made just short of £1800—fantastic.
We have been appointed one of the ten official charities to benefit from the next Sheffield Half Marathon which is being run on the 26th April. The more entries we get running under the M.N.D. banner the more money we receive so if anybody feels like having a go or can twist anybody’s arm it would be marvellous. Obviously a lot of us are not now up to that kind of running but it might be worth considering the Fun Run which is just round the Stadium. It is literally great fun with people in wheelchairs, entrants pushing children in prams and many in fancy dress. It all brings in sponsorship money which is what it is all about. All the details about applying etc are given below so do think about it.
At the October meeting our speaker is Craig Thompson whose mother, who lived in
Gordon
We have had kindly donated an Elat Swivel Car Seat. It will fit most cars and is a marvellous asset for help in getting someone easily and safely into a car. Any body who is interested please ring Gordon on 0114 236 2589.
The Branch also has a portable ramp available for loan to anyone who would like to borrow it. Please contact any of the usual contact numbers for information.
Treasurers Report
The second quarter of the financial year which ended on 31st July saw expenditure on patient care and equipment of £3,222, which is around average.
Income from donations was slightly above average at £3,900. The garden party raised a marvellous total of £1,700 and the Walk to D’Feet £373.
It is pleasing to see the financial position of the Branch going from strength to strength.
Paul
Free cinema card for Carers (www.ceacard.co.uk)
Patricia Morton, a member of the South Yorkshire Branch, e-mailed me to say she had come across this information and thought it would be of interest to some people. She has checked the list of participating cinemas and all the
The card is operated by “the cinema exhibitors’ association limited” and an application form can be obtained from supporting cinemas across the
a Be in receipt of disability living allowance.
b Be a registered blind person.
A processing fee of £5-50 is chargeable per card
The card is used is used to verify that the holder is entitled to one free ticket for a person accompanying them in the cinema. If you have any difficulty there is more information on our local website or contact “The Card Network” on 0845 123 1292 If its just an application form you want contact me (Michael Hickman) and I will obtain one to send to you.
Patricia also mentions the web site http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ for information on benefit entitlements etc and also how useful the Sheffield Carers Centre was to her.
News from Head Office
Hints, tips and problem-solving come from many different sources to help people living with MND manage everyday activities. The best advice often comes from people who have first hand experience of living with MND. With the help and support of the PMA/PALS email support group, we are delighted to introduce you to new pages on our website, (www.mndassociation.org/hintsandtips), as provided by people living with MND.
Accessible
The Motability Car Scheme and Rough Guides have between them produced a guide for ideas on tried and tested days out across the
Available on line at :- www.accessibleguide.co.uk.
If you do not have access to the Internet please ring Michael on 0114 250 0078.
Free atlas for Blue Badge holders
PIE Enterprises is offering a free
To claim your free copy, send a cheque for £3-99 payable to PIE Enterprises and quoting the reference FREEATLAS with your name, address, telephone number and email address to:
PIE Enterprises Ltd
Or alternatively apply online at www.thepieguide.com/shop by selecting the atlas at its normal price, following the prompts until you reach the coupon code, enter freeatlas into the coupon box and you will now only be charged £3-99.
If you have any questions regarding your order please call 0207 952 0459.
Searching for Heroes
In this years New Years Honours List 82% of all OBEs and MBEs were for people who have undertaken charitable or voluntary service, either as part of their job or independently. To find similarly deserving people for future Honours the Government is asking organizations across a range of interests – from charities and volunteers to local and health authorities, sports and faith groups and business – to play their part in submitting ideas for who should receive Royal recognition for working so hard on behalf of others.
Anyone can submit a nomination, you do not need to be an official of any organization. To find out how, go to http://www.honours.gov/ or write to the
Ceremonial Secretariat at the Cabinet Office,
Carers .
Did you Know
On in ten adults in the
Three million people juggle work with caring responsibilities
1.25 million people provide over 50 hrs a week caring
People providing high levels of care are twice as likely to be permanently sick or disabled themselves
1.3 million carers are over 65
The main carers benefit is Carers Allowance is £48-65 per week for a minimum of 35 hours
Carers save the Government £57 billion each year
Carers
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