Foyle Branch Activities & Events
2005 CHRISTMAS DINNER
The 2005 Christmas dinner was held in the Tower Hotel on 26 November. Christmas seems to arrive earlier each year or maybe webmaster is just getting older. The large turnout included a number of new faces. This added to the enjoyment of the evening but it also highlights the sobering fact that, despite very promising advances in research and the emergence of new, improved treatments, there is still no cure for MS.
PICTURE AT LAUNCH OF NI SCHOOLS TITAN'S LEAPS & BOUNDS CHAMPION CHALLENGE PROGRAMME
BBC NI, presenter Donna Traynor and Titan the Tiger are joined by Bernadette Lafferty and Terry McNamee, Schools Link Officers from the Foyle Branch of the MS Society, NI, at the NI launch of 'Titan's Leaps and Bounds Champion Challenge'. This is an Awareness & Fundraising Programme for NI Schools. Terry is hopeful that local primary schools will respond enthusiastically to the challenge of hopping, skipping or jumping in aid of MS. Further information is posted on the News & Research page.
73 YEAR OLD TOM LEEN CYCLES FROM KERRY TO DERRY IN AID OF MS
73 year old Tom Leen relaxes with a a glass of milk in Iona House after his marathon cycle from Kerry to Derry in aid of MS. Tom arrived in Derry at 10.30pm on Sat 17th Sept 2005. He is determined to help people affected by MS, their carers, families & friends and he regularly does a 300-mile bike ride to prove it.
He left Ireland for the United States at age 23 to find work and retired as director of human resources for Thermal King, part of the Westinghouse company at age 60 in 1992. He lives in Philadelphia when he's not cycling in aid of MS here or in the US.
He's been doing the Ireland bike ride since 2001.
PRESENTATION OF SHINING STAR TO NANCY WARNOCK
FRUIT OF THE LOOM WORKERS CHEQUE PRESENTATIONS
THE 44th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE FOYLE BRANCH took place in Foyle Disability Resource Centre, Glen Road, at 3p.m. on 10 May 2005
The meeting was chaired by Katie acting for Peter who was ill. She welcomed Guest Speaker, Joe Lusby, and read Peter's address, insisting that her natural blonde hair was preferable to his shiny dome. Marie presented the minutes of the 2004 AGM. In addition to a detailed written report of the year's work, Terry provided a very informative and interesting outline of how the activities and membership of the Branch fitted within the overall aims and mission of the NI MS Society. MS Nurse, Fiona, described the extensive support she is called on to provide throughout the Western Board area and outlined some initiatives she is engaged in jointly with the Northern Board MS nurse. Moira stressed the excellent relationship the Branch has with Foyle Trust and outlined the benefits members derive from the various activities. She highlighted in particular a very worthwhile recent self esteem course attended by about 15 members. Damien, usually sombre about the finances, managed to present a fairly upbeat report but didn't miss the opportunity in the presence of Foyle Trust CE, Joe Lusby, to stress the importance of continuing support from the Trust.
In his address, Joe Lusby complimented the branch and its committee for the work it does and expressed his particular pleasure in the joint MS-Trust initiative in funding the MS nurse position. He warned that there is likely to be increasing pressure on Trust funding in the immediate future because of a decision by the Board to prioritise funding for acute services. He detailed the current Trust expenditure on its services for older people, persons with learning disabilities, mental health provision, child care provision and community care. Finally he described the Trust's initiatives in continuing to divert as much institutional funding as possible into support provision within the community.
Terry presents Nancy with a token of the Branch's appreciation of her outstanding contribution to the branch over 40 years.
Elections of Officers and committee followed. Details are available on the Who & Where We Are page. The meeting concluded with good wishes to Nancy and an expression of thanks for her outstanding contribution to the Branch over forty years of service on the committee.
The attendance enjoyed the excellent refreshment provided as always by faithful volunteers - although Moira, Ethna & Marie are afraid Maggie might grab their buns.
ANNUAL TABLE QUIZ - WATERFOOT HOTEL - 8 pm WEDNESDAY, 30th MARCH 2005 .
Masterful
MC, Maurice, who left his million dollar baby at home, Katie who presented prizes galore, many of which were provided by Marie Henderson & Catriona Cunningham, and, last but, despite appearances to the contrary, not least, Damien, the 3rd member of the organising team. Between them they provided a most enjoyable night for the large attendance and raised over £500 for the Branch.
Worthy - if somewhat giddy - winners of the quiz claim their prizes
Definitely no hard feelings from this team
Ethna can't wait to get started on the ironing
They may not have won the quiz but they made up for it in the raffles
Although pleased her friends won a raffle, Marie is eyeing the prize
Wesley's Pretenders came in with a bang but went out with a whimper
MEMBERS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN A STUDY TO INVESTIGATE THE BENEFIT OF REFLEXOLOGY FOR PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.
The Multiple Sclerosis Research Group at the University of Ulster is currently undertaking research to determine the effectiveness of reflexology on treating the symptoms associated with Multiple Sclerosis. We are inviting members to participate. Reflexology is an increasingly popular complementary therapy where zones of the feet are massaged; these zones correspond to different parts of the body. Previous research has shown that reflexology can improve a range of symptoms such as pain, spasm, fatigue, headache, stress, anxiety and insomnia. In particular, we would like to investigate the effectiveness of this treatment upon pain, and to determine if reflexology can reduce spasm and improve quality of life. In this study, treatment will be carried out for 1 hour on a weekly basis for 10 weeks. Participants will be asked to complete a number of different questionnaires before and after the treatments.
If you would like to take part in this study, or would like more information on any of the research studies taking place at the University of Ulster, please do not hesitate to contact us at the details provided below. Your participation in this research would be very much appreciated, and it is hoped that the results of this study will identify positive benefits reflexology can bring to those people with Multiple Sclerosis.
Mrs. Sandra Smyth, Room 14J17, School of Health Sciences, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, BT37 0QB Tel: 0044 (0) 28 9036 6193 Fax: 0044 (0) 28 9036 8419
Dr. Andrea Lowe-Strong, Room 14J17, School of Health Sciences, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, BT37 0QB Tel: 9036 8052 Fax: 9036 8419 Email: a.lowe@ulster.ac.uk
ATTENDANCE AT 2005 PRITCHARD LECTURE
The 10th annual Jack Pritchard Lecture was held on Tuesday 15 February 2005 The Octagon Suite, King's Hall Conference Centre, Balmoral, Belfast. 'Multiple Sclerosis: Past, Present and Future' was the title of the presentation by the Guest Speaker: Dr Mike Boggild, MS Consultant Neurologist, The Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Liverpool.
Josephine Tinney MS Ireland, Dr Mike Boggild the Walton Centre, Liverpool, Robert McConnell NI MS Community Support Officer, Maureen Welsh and Joan Elliott Fermanagh branch at the Pritchard Lecture.
Dominic Duffy Strabane Branch, Eimear Cunningham Foyle Branch and Fiona Mullan Western Board MS Specialist Nurse