WMS Newsletter - 1st Quarter 2024

 Click here to view or download a pdf version of the newsletter

 Wellington MS E-newsletter - Quarter 1 2024
 

 A generous Donation from Blue Star

 
The wonderful people at Blue Star Petone have donated a HUGE cheque worth $5000 towards the important mahi Wellington MS does supporting PwMS around the Greater Wellington region. 

Blue Star General Manager Darren Comrie said "This great bunch of people are doing an incredible job. Blue Star are thrilled to be able to play a part in this to help make a difference." This isn't the first time Darren and his colleagues have made a very generous donation to WMS and we thank them for their ongoing support. 

Image description: There are smiles all around as WMS receives the generous donation from Blue Star. (L-R) Darren Comrie, Group General Manager Blue Star, Jo Dean Lead Community Advisor, Steve McCloskey Committee Member, Rob Wilson Blue Star. View this page on our website: https://mswellington.org.nz/about-us/new-news-page/a-generous-donation-from-blue-star/
 

Thanks for Supporting Our Important Work

 
  • The Keown family made a generous $15,000 in December on behalf of much loved and greatly missed family member Janette Keown.
  • The Eastern & Central Community Trust have granted $5000 to be used delivering our services in the Wairarapa.
The funding we receive from the government for the services we provide only covers around a third of our costs each year, so we make applications to around a dozen trusts or foundations to cover the remainder.

As I'm sure you're all aware, this is a challenging time for many people and organisations so we need to work hard so we can continue to provide our vital service that enables people with MS to lead their best lives.

You can learn about ways to support the important work we do on our website by using the link below.
https://mswellington.org.nz/support-us/
 

Committee Update

 
We're very pleased to welcome two new committee members, Ollie Burton and Monica Madukwe. We will tell you more about them in the next enewsletter.
 

In memorium for Duilia Rendall
Image Description: Duilia Rendall is wearing glasses and dark hair, and is smiling as she faces the camera. She was a former WMS President, a mother of two, a teacher and social justice warrior.
 

It is with great sadness we advise that former WMS President and Committee and social justice warrior Duilia Rendall (pictured right) passed away recently after a short illness.

Duilia, an ex-teacher and mother of two, was well known to many of us and had also been involved with a host of other organisations and causes. She could often be found at Hutt Valley support groups wearing her trademark colours: purples and pinks.

Our condolences to Duilia’s family and many friends.
 

Quick Donate via our QR code on the MSNZ website
https://fundraise.msnz.org.nz/faceofms/ms-wellington
 

Can You Raise Awareness or Funds for WMS?

 
We love it when the WMS community put their thinking caps on and come up with amazing ways to raise funds to help support the amazing mahi we do.

Past events have included bake sales, movie nights and one committed fundraiser even found sponsors to pay for her to chop her pigtails off! 
World MS Awareness Day Thursday 30 May 2024
We'd really like to get some community activities going to promote MS Awareness Day on Thursday 30 May.

We will be hosting a Quiz night at Speight's Alehouse Petone that night. We're just starting our planning on this but will advise more details soon.

With your help we can mark this important day. We would dearly love to hear about lots of events happening out in the community so please get in touch.

MS Awareness Week 9 - 15 September 2024
This is our big campaign each year so please pop the date in your diary. We've already started laying the ground work for another supermarket and street campaign and know we can count on your support.
Supporting your Fundraisers for WMS
Whether you're keen to organise a coffee morning, dye your hair MS orange or something else we would love your help to fundraise and will support you as much as we can.

If you choose to fund or awareness raise for us at any time we're able to support you by letting our community know via

- the newsletter, website and Facebook,
- providing banners and other resources and
- perhaps spending some time lending a hand on the day if we can.
We also love to share photos of your events after they've happened.

If you've got an event or some fundraising to tell us about please let your community advisor know or email suzanne@mswellington.org.nz.
 

Dates for Your Diary
  • Tuesday 9 - Saturday 20 April 2024: Bangers to Bluff. We will publish info on our website when available.
  • 10.30am Saturday 18 May 2024: The 2024 WMS Annual General Meeting at Upper Hutt Cossie Club.
 

Accessibility Bill: March to Parliament and Petition
 
We would all like to see improved accessibility in Aotearoa-New Zealand and Access Matters is organising a petition and march to get this important work moving again.

At present, everyone seems to agree the current Accessibility Bill needs more work while some disabled people consider the previous version unworkable and think its best to start again from scratch. Access Matters, which advocated for the original Bill, and the responsible Minister acknowledge that a substantial rework is required.

Whether you choose to sign the petition or not, and/or whether you attend the march or not we think it’s important that you know about these activities, are well informed and have the opportunity to get involved if you want to.

If you choose to, we would like to hear your thoughts about the Bill and the upcoming march by email to your community advisor or add your comments to our Facebook post.

When: Thursday 7 March, 12pm – 3pm

Where: Departing from either Bunny Street or Midland Park, and arriving at Parliament at 1pm

Who: Supporters of strong accessibility legislation in Aotearoa New Zealand

Why: To encourage the Government to listen to disabled voices in their consultation process when reviewing the Accessibility for New Zealanders 

Read more on our website or go to www.accessmatters.org.nz (opens in new window).
 

New MS Resources

 
The wonderful team at MSNZ have been busy updating these resources.
 - Living Well with MS 

- Recognising a Relapse 

- "I have a MS Diagnosis" Card

- Preparing For Your Neurologist Appointment

- What is MS.

Contact your Community Advisor if you would like a copy.