A CHARITY has been celebrating 30 years of helping MS sufferers in the town – and hopes to continue for many more to come.

On Saturday, a celebration was held at the MS Therapy Centre at Bradbury House, Westlea, with a host of special guests and users to mark the occasion.

Centre manager Jackie Wray was joined by the High Sheriff of Wiltshire William Wyldbore-Smith, who helped to cut the cake, Swindon mayor Nick Martin and MP Robert Buckland, who enjoyed the fine weather and a hog roast donated by Purton Roasters.

Having treated people with multiple sclerosis since August 1983, the charity moved to larger premises at Bradbury House in January 2010, and has seen the number of people they treat rise from 30 to 360, with more 6,000 different therapies.

The centre has also been able to treat people with other neurological conditions, including ME, brain injuries, strokes, Parkinson’s disease and cancer.

Since its move, the charity has been able to provide a whole new range of therapies including a state-of-the-art oxygen chamber.

The centre costs around £150,000 to run a year and is supported by £37,000 from the Big Lottery Fund, as well as endless fundraising from members of the public.

Jackie, who is an MS sufferer herself, was overwhelmed by the support shown on Saturday and hopes the centre will continue to grow in the future.

“The day went amazingly well. We had a fantastic turnout with more than 200 people in attendance, as well as some special guests,” she said.

“I have been involved for 20 years when the charity was at Cheney Manor, in BSS House.

“We were very lucky with the move and after a lot of hard work found ourself in a fantastic facility. We used to have 30 people when I took over in 2004 and now we have 360 and offer 6,000 therapies.

“When you are diagnosed with a long-term condition like MS it can be difficult but knowing there is a facility like this and the support on hand to help you makes a huge difference.

“We had some members there on Saturday who had not seen the facility and were just blown away by how fantastic it was.

“We also want to say a big thank-you to Zurich, who provided a massive help painting some of the rooms before the day and helping to hand out refreshments on the day.

“It was a very special day and it was nice for members to come and socialise rather than just coming in for treatment, which was nice for the staff as well.”

For information about the new centre, call 01793 481700 or visit www.msswindon.org.uk and www.buy.at./swindonmstherapycentre.

Offering state-of-the-art equipment

THE MS Therapy Centre has been through a number of changes since it first opened in 1983 in BSS House, in Cheney Manor Industrial Estate.

Swindon Therapy Centre for Multiple Sclerosis was founded initially in 1981 as a self-help group, which has grown and developed following the acquisition of a two-person oxygen chamber in 1983.

In 2008, the centre started treating other conditions such as strokes and Parkinsons Disease, as well as children with Cerebral Palsy, Autism and brain injuries, as all these conditions can benefit from the oxygen therapy, physiotherapy and other therapies on offer.

In January 2010, after four years of fundraising, the centre moved to its current premises at Bradbury House, in Westmead Drive.

The centrepiece of the £850,000 centre was the £100,000 12-seater oxygen chamber, as well as a state-of-the art fully equipped gym and physio room, two separate therapy rooms, kitchen and social area with dedicated disabled internet point, reception, separate meeting room and further private room.

The chamber works by building up a high pressure of oxygen.

The patient sits inside the chamber and breathes medical grade, pure oxygen through a mask.
This high level of oxygen then attaches itself into the blood stream and is then sent to the brain.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for the opening, though, after lead thieves struck just days before it was due to open, costing the charity about £300 to replace with a non-lead alternative.

In 2011, the team at the Therapy Centre for Multiple Sclerosis were among the winners at the Pride of Swindon awards and only last year the centre was presented with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.