Happy New Year
A New Year message from the Trust’s CEO, Karen Walker
2016 passed in such a rapid blur, I cannot quite get myself into the 2017 mode, however I think it is time I tried, so here are my New year’s resolutions for a great 2017:
- More contact with people living with MSA – I am looking forward to getting to more Support Groups this year and discussing with people who have MSA, families and carers how best MSA Trust can support them. If you can’t get along to a Support Group, email us your thoughts to support@msatrust.org.uk.
- More involvement with the research community. This year we launch our partnership with the Association of British Neurologists to find a Research Fellow to encourage more clinical neurologists to specialise in MSA. We hope this post will begin in September 2017 and look forward to welcoming the ABN/MSA Research Fellow to a MSA meeting sometime in the autumn. We will keep you updated via MSA News, the next edition of which is due in mid-February 2017.
- More involvement with our fundraisers. I have really enjoyed meeting a number of our wonderful supporters this year, who have put such superhuman effort into raising much needed funds for the trust. I know our Deputy CEO Andy was blown away by the daring of the climbers over the O2 arena and we were both stunned by the amazing climb to the top of Mount Toubkal. Then, at my sort of pace, the lovely tea parties that many of our supporters have organised once again brought out the table designers in us. Lovely displays of delicious cakes and yummy biscuits plus raising funds for MSA was a winning combination.
- Support for MSA Trust’s 20th Anniversary Celebrations. I am really excited by the launch of Sarah’s Wood in the depths of Sherwood Forest, kindly supported by Sarah’s brother, and Trustee, Hugh. Please make sure you save the date, 13th June 2017 at 2.30p.m. The trustees and staff at the Trust hope that you will want to join us to make an inaugural planting of a mighty ‘Sherwood Oak’ tree wood, to symbolise the power of the MSA community to support and enrich each other and to make this unbearable condition more endurable. The other events we have planned will build upon some of our ‘old faithfuls’: London Marathon, Ride London, Great North Run and introduce a few more. 20 events in 20 weeks for the 20th is our aim in the summer of 2017 – can you compete in one of our 20 events, within the 20-week period and for our 20th Anniversary? Our aim is to reach £20,000 across these events towards our 20th anniversary appeal for a 4th MSA Nurse Specialist. We are almost in a financial position to do so, just one more push from our fantastic supporters will enable us to set the ball rolling.
No two days are ever the same at the MSA Trust, which creates great challenges and even more rewards. Although we are dealing with one of the most difficult pieces of news people, and their loved ones will ever have to face, our supporters and members continue to inspire me to try to do my utmost to support people on this journey.
Happy New Year to you all,
Karen
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the blogs published on these pages are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the MSA Trust.
