Gym Users Hard at Work

Jackie Payne – Centre Manager

Centre Manager Update

• Street collections re-start for us on 9 April with Farnham as the first collection for 2022. As always, many thanks to those of you who volunteer your help with these collections. Please note the other dates and towns where we are due to collect this year and do let me know if you can help for an hour or two with any of these collections:
  • 14 May Dorking
  • 28 May Waitrose, Guildford
  • 18 June Guildford town centre
  • 9 July Cranleigh
  • 30 July Godalming
  • 20 August Waitrose,  Goldsworth Park, Woking
  • 10 Sep Haslemere

• I have 32 runners taking part in the London 10k on 10 July this year, which is brilliant. This event has not been able to take place for 2 years so I think all the runners are now keen to get involved in this great event. We have 3 members of staff running for us this year i.e. Maria, Emma W and Davinia plus Vicky’s husband, Pete. It will be great if we can arrange a joint justgiving page for our staff team runners and I am sure several members and others will be happy to sponsor them.

• The cake sale at the Centre on 16 March raised over £400 which was a great result. I have now discovered more very good bakers amongst our members and volunteers! The next cake sale will take place on 15 June – do put the date in your diaries.

• Many of you will agree that the new road surface on Riverside where the Centre is situated is much improved. The road was closed for 4 days in mid-March in order for the workers to do a proper job of resurfacing the whole length of Riverside. Was worth the disruption to get this work done.

• Thanks to Duncan for his time in training up 3 new oxygen operators in Don, Rachel and Jen. Thanks also go to David and Chris for extending the length of their alternate Tuesdays as operators so that we can increase our capacity and treat more people who are wanting oxygen therapy.

• Guy Williams and friends have set up a regular little get together on Friday mornings to use the gym and then have coffee (often supplemented by delicious cinnamon buns from a local bakery)! Lovely to see them enjoying each other’s company.

• Thanks to Linda Broughton for agreeing to host the Carers meetings again. One took place on 29 March and we hope to host these each month, using the meeting room in the annexe. All carers are welcome as you can get to know each other better, share experiences etc. Dates for further carers meetings will be communicated.

• Sara, our Lead Physio has organised several monthly MS related talks over Zoom. These are notified to members via email and have a healthy attendance.

• Our lovely team of 4 physios attended the MS Trust conference over 2 days in March. Lots to learn about the latest in the world of MS and Sara and her team will be looking at how to use some of the learnings from the conference at the Centre. The MS Trust very kindly fund 80% of the cost of this conference so we only have to come up with the money for the remaining 20%.