new:
newsletter june 2010
about the
branch
The
Branch was formed in 1992 the first Chairman was John Quarmby
who had very personal reasons as he was living with Motor
Neurone Disease. Following John the vice chair Mr Edward Eves
(Ted) became Chairman and he retired from this post in 2004 but
he fortunately has remained as Branch contact. The
Branch is one of 80 nationally in England and
Wales. We are supported by a National Office in Northampton
which has an elected Board of Trustees and the Chief Executive is Dr Kirstine Knox.
The
Branch area is in the North East of Hampshire, covering an area
from Kingsclere in the north west along the Berkshire border to
Sandhurst in the east and down the Surrey border to Borden /
Whitehill in the south , then westward again through Alton ,
Whitchurch up to Kingsclere. Basingstoke and area being very
central to the Branch area.
Currently the Branch is supporting or knows of more than twenty families living
with Motor Neurone Disease.
The Association runs an
equipment loan service for items which are often needed quickly,
for example riser recliner chairs, communication aids
and suction units
Our
Branch the North East Hants is part of a National Organisation
with the National Office being in Northampton. National Office
supervises the proper functioning of the Branches. National
Office employ across the country Regional Care Advisers who are
professionals in the field of patient care, these Advisers work
very closely with the Statutory Services and Branches to ensure
an optimum service for people living with Motor Neurone Disease.
Branches
have considerable autonomy and spend directly in their area such
monies as they raise on provision of services to people with MND,
as well as donating to research at National Office.
The
Branch Committee is elected annually and comprises four officers
and a Committee, at present four members each with a specific
role. We have Association Visitors whose role is liaison with
families, the Regional Care Adviser and the Branch Committee. It
is through the Association Visitor that we are able to ensure
that the equipment that may be in short supply or has funding
problems through the Statutory Services can be made available
when needed, not too late to be of any use.
During
the past year we have been supported by the Foresters Loddon
Vale Branch and HIFX . Other fund raising activities were street
collections, a Jazz Evening, sponsored events, an Open Garden and a plant sale in the
Spring.
We are a
small dedicated Committee who work towards the aims of the
Association to make a difference in the lives of people living
with MND. Our fund raising also supports research which will
slow down the process of the disease and eventually find a
cure. The Branch holds open meetings and the daytime
get-togethers in Chineham for people living with MND and their
carers.
