Services for people with MND, Parkinson’s, Arthritis and Cerebral Palsy CYM
Wales & West Housing Group staff have chosen to raise money for four health charities for the next two years.
Those charities are the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MND Association), Cerebral Palsy Cymru, Parkinson’s UK Cymru and Cymru Versus Arthritis.
Here are some of the ways the charities are helping people across Wales and ways you can help with fundraising.
The MND Association is the leading charity in Wales, England and Northern Ireland focused on improving access to care, research and campaigning for those people living with or affected by MND.
Motor neurone disease (MND) is a fatal, rapidly progressing neurological condition affecting more than 5,000 adults in the UK at any one time. The disease causes messages from nerves (motor neurones) in the brain and spinal cord that control movement to gradually stop reaching the muscles, leading them to weaken, stiffen and waste.
Tom’s story
Tom Jenkins, from Holyhead, a father of six, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in June 2021. The MND Association supported him and his family with their new conservatory.
He said: “The MND Association funded some curtains which are keeping the heat in and shutting the outside world for some privacy.
“We couldn’t have done that without the support from the Association, so I feel privileged to have that help. It makes a huge difference.
“That’s as well as having the emotional support and knowing there’s somebody out there who can help and lend an ear when needed.”
In Wales, the MND Association has six different groups and branches run entirely by volunteers. Through their range of expertise, they help to coordinate and organise fundraising events – including the Bay2Bay4MND. They also provide information and financial support for people with MND, their carers and family.
Across Wales, England and Northern Ireland, the Association provides support to approximately 3,500 people through its MND Care and Research Centre Network, developed in partnership with the NHS. It funds around £2m in financial grants annually, with more than 2600 people affected by MND benefitting from the service last year. The Association is proud to take a leading role in the global fight against MND by funding groundbreaking research into the disease and facilitating important collaboration between MND researchers.
You can find out more about MND and the support available to people affected by the disease on the MND Association’s website.
Find out more
Parkinson’s UK Cymru supports people who are living with Parkinson’s, a degenerative neurological condition. Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, currently affecting approximately 8,300 people across Wales.
The main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include involuntary shaking (otherwise known as tremors), movement that’s slower than usual and stiffness in the muscles. But research has identified over 40 different symptoms including problems with sleep and memory, and mental health issues. Parkinson’s symptoms will be different for everyone and it’s important to remember that not everyone will experience all of them.
The order that symptoms can appear and the way they progress varies from person to person. Parkinson’s UK Cymru runs a free confidential helpline providing information and support and is available to anyone affected by Parkinson’s on 0808 800 0303.
Across Wales, people with Parkinson’s, scientists and supporters, fundraisers and families, carers and clinicians, are all working side by side. Fundraisers power everything the charity does, from supporting people with Parkinson’s and their families through the cost-of-living crisis, to funding groundbreaking research into new treatments. By funding the right research into the most promising treatments, they get closer to a cure every day. Until then, they’re here for everyone affected by Parkinson’s.
Cerebral Palsy Cymru is a national charity and centre of excellence that provides specialist therapy and support to children and families across Wales living with cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in children worldwide, and it is estimated that every five days a baby will be born in Wales who will have the condition.
Cerebral Palsy Cymru’s specialist early intervention service ‘Better Start, Better Future’ provides therapy and support for babies in Wales who have, or are at high risk of, cerebral palsy. Last year, they provided 1,121 therapy sessions to 301 children across Wales.
The charity needs to raise approximately £2million every year to continue to provide its current level of service. On average, 80% of that total is generated donations, gifts in wills, special partnerships like the one with Wales & West Housing and income generated from the sale of pre-loved items in their four charity shops.
Volunteers also make a huge contribution to the charity. For more information on how you can help make a difference through fundraising or volunteering, please contact fundraising@cerebralpalsycymru.org.
Cymru Versus Arthritis says there are currently 970,000 people living with arthritis or musculoskeletal conditions in Wales – that’s a third of the population living with the pain, fatigue and disability it can cause.
Cymru Versus Arthritis makes sure that people with arthritis in Wales have the support and information they need to live well with their condition. It also makes sure that the needs of people with arthritis are a priority with policymakers in Wales.
One of those support services is the Living Well and CWTCH (Communities Working Together Can Help) service which works alongside people with arthritis, community groups, health and social care professionals.
It offers support across four key areas:
- pain management
- self-management
- physical activity
- shared decision making
These services are open to anyone who might need them. If you or someone you know would like to find Cymru versus Arthritis support in your area visit www.versusarthritis.org/in-your-area/wales/
A volunteer’s story
Volunteers play a vital role in delivering services across Wales, raising funds and raising awareness of arthritis.
After her own diagnosis, Mary found the support Versus Arthritis had to offer made a significant impact on her quality of life. This was invaluable to her and she wanted to get involved with helping others through the CWTCH Project.
Mary now volunteers with the project, supporting the group to plan future session activities which have included support relating to mindfulness, meditation, and crafts.
“I was a young person with arthritis and all I was told was that the only people who got arthritis were people in their 80s. I was very alone with it for a long time, and I liked the idea of being able to make a difference in some way to somebody else who’s going through the same thing. It’s thanks to this charity I was able to have some kind of a life, so I wanted to help give that back.”
If you want to get involved with volunteering, please get in touch with the Wales Office to find out more on 0800 756 3970.