The West of England MS Therapy Centre (MSTC) based in Bradley Stoke that has been caring for people with multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions, their families and carers since 1985 has partnered up with Riverside Leisure Club in Little Stoke, thanks to one of their members, Giselle Rozzell.
Giselle was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis in November 2012. Since being diagnosed, Giselle has used the MS Therapy Centre and says:
“I do physio classes to help with balance. I also do weekly oxygen which is in a compression tank breathing pure oxygen through a face mask; this helps me enormously with fatigue, balance and posture. I wanted to include my love of water into my weekly routine, so I joined Riverside Leisure Club, who have been extremely supportive. I do a weekly aquafit class there and also enjoy swimming which is fantastic as it doesn’t put any pressure on my joints.”
Giselle saw an opportunity for the two centres to work together and introduced the MS Centre’s events and community officer Sarah Vincent to Ali Drury, Riverside’s centre manager. The pair have since been busy forming a mutually beneficial partnership with many fundraising events in the calendar.
Sarah says:
“I am very excited about the partnership we have formed. Ali and his team have been amazing and I cannot wait to get some of the events underway at Riverside. It costs us in the region of £400,000 a year to operate, so relationships like this are critical to our success and enable us to continue helping those who need us.”
If you are a member of Riverside and would like to get involved in some fundraising for the MS Therapy Centre then please contact Sarah Vincent via email at sarah.vincent@mstherapybristol.org.uk
Photo (l-r): Giselle Rozzell, Sarah Vincent (events and community officer, MSTC), Ali Drury (Riverside manager) and Alana (Riverside class instructor).
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2018 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine (on page 31). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to ALL 8,700 homes in Bradley Stoke. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.
