Members celebrating two years at the Baptist Church
A Multiple Sclerosis support group marked their second anniversary with a celebration bash at a Wishaw church.
Member of the MS Group, which is held every Thursday at Wishaw Baptist Church, held a party last week to mark the memorable day.
Around 40 people attend the muchneeded group every week.
Members get the chance to chat with other people suffering from the same issues and offer advice and tips with how to deal with symptoms.
They also as well as socialising, weekly massages and reflexology treatments, going on monthly trips and taking part in fundraising to keep the group going.
Maureen McCann and Evy Martin started the local group in 2015 after the MS Group at the Dalziel Centre in Motherwell closed down. Evy’s husband Joe suffers from MS. She said: “When the Dalziel Centre closed down I was determined to get something else up and running.
“There was nothing in the area and I knew how much people relied and benefited from group like this. It makes a huge difference to Joe’s life and I wanted to keep it going
“When Maureen secured our booking at the Baptist Church I was delighted.
“I can’t believe how much we’ve grown since.
“We work hard and fight for every penny we get.
“We strive to keep the group running and to have enough funds to take the members out as regularly as we can.
Members pay £3 on a weekly basis, this included breakfast and lunch and weekly raffle.
Denholms Bakers provide cakes, pastries and fresh bread to the group every week.
Evy attended: “I can’t thank Denholms enough for their support and everyone else who offers a helping hand and fundraises for our group. We are all very grateful for the support.”
Tom Semple has been attending the group for over a year.
Since his diagnosis he has been forced to give up work.
He said: “It’s good because we are all in the same boat and can really relate to one another.
“My life has been very different since I joined.
“My morale and my social life has really improved.
“It passes the time and really gives me something which I can look forward to each week.”