MS Society wish for a bit of help

TODAY WE TALK TO NORTH TYNESIDE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY

What will you do with this year’s Wish money?

One of the first points of contact is our helpline, which is managed by volunteers.

We arrange social events as a lot of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) get very isolated.

We run an exercise class to help people maintain their level of mobility.

We also arrange grants for people to adapt their homes to make their lives easier to manage.

We will use this year’s Wish money to help our exercise group, to pay for the premises we rent and to help with transport for those unable to attend otherwise.

Tell us about your group.

North Tyneside MS has been running for more than 30 years. We have about 130 members but are aware of over 400 people with MS in North Tyneside.

We are here to help anyone affected by MS, so not just the person with MS but their families and friends too.

What kind of activities take place at your group?

There are lots of activities that take place in our group – including a weekly drop-in, social nights, an exercise group and fundraising events.

Who is the longest serving member of your group?

Jim McAndrew, our group leader, has been involved in the group for more than 25 years.

Tell us about the biggest or best activity or event your group has organised.

The biggest event we organised was a zipwire across the Tyne, where we had 50 fundraisers.

Our summer barbecues usually attract about 70 people and this includes people with MS and their families.

What is your group’s proudest moment to date?

Every time we make a difference to someone’s life for the better.

Why should someone join your group? There are many reasons why someone should join our group including for support, assistance and social contact. What makes you proud to be from the North East using five words?

The great sense of community.