Community
The Neuromuscular
Centre has always relied on the support and help from the community
groups.
'Community
groups' is quite a general term and at the NMC we use it to describe
all the local clubs, societies, institutes, guilds etc.
Just to
give you some examples, we have listed below some types of groups who
support the NMC:
Round Tables, Ladies Circles, Rotary Clubs, Inner Wheels, Lion Clubs,
RAOB, Masonic Lodges, Schools and Colleges, Women's Institutes, Church
Groups, Sports Clubs, Young Farmers Clubs, Parish Councils and lots
more.
Communities
groups represent a vital source of income for the NMC and their support
means a great deal to people with muscular dystrophy (md). The awareness
built around community groups is as important as the funding the Centre
receives from them.
People
with muscular dystrophy who use the Centre come from various parts of
the North West and North Wales and our Community Fundraiser Katia, travels
to the counties bordering Cheshire and Greater Manchester in order to
raise awareness and funds.
If you
are looking for a guest speaker and are interested in learning more
about muscular dystrophy and the amazing work carried out at the NMC,
contact Katia Vicini.
Family
Fun Day 2007
In June
we organised our first Family Fun Day and welcomed hundreds of families
from Winsford and the surrounding areas. This sort of event is very
important for the NMC as it provides a forum to keep a strong connection
with our local community and raise more awareness of muscular dystrophy
and the specialist services we provide.
We wanted
to bring in various aspects including 'fun' and 'learning' throughout
the afternoon. We certainly managed to combine the two with our wheelchair
slalom which attracted both children and adults. A lot of NMC staff,
trainees and patients with muscular dystrophy are wheelchair users:
we thought that one of the best ways to appreciate the difficulties
people with muscular dystrophy come across was to try manoeuvring a
wheelchair. And it did work and turn out to be, well let's say, very
tricky for some of them.
Other attractions
included a circus skill workshop, water pistol can shooting, coconut
shy, pin the tail on the donkey, treasure hunt, bouncy castle, face
painting and balloon modelling. The local radio station Cheshire FM
brought a sensational atmosphere to the day with a live broadcast and
we are looking forward to be working with them again.
The early
rain and rather damp grounds did not stop our 25 staff and volunteers,
and hundreds of supporters to enjoy the afternoon. We are already contemplating
the possibility of building on this year's success and plan to organise
another Family Fun Day for next year. Watch this space!
