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My name is Keith Taylor. I am 83 years old and very proud to have been the Senior Oxygen Operator and now support Angela Ball in that role, here at The Brightwell. My involvement with the Charity goes back over 40 years to the early 1980s. My beloved wife Pat was diagnosed with MS in 1973, and at that time there was no provision or treatment on the NHS for MS. After diagnosis, people were sent home and expected to just get on with living with this cruel condition! We both decided that this was wholly unacceptable and to look for our own forms of therapy. We both looked at things from a “scientific” perspective, I had studied at first Biology and later, Chemistry and was managing the Sewage Treatment Works based in the Yeo Valley and Pat was the Lead Pharmacist at the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital. We read about the successful use of Oxygen Therapy and in 1983, Pat began to go to Exeter to use the tank there, this was quite difficult to do juggling family, work, and travel. At the time, Oxygen Therapy was the only positive response to helping with MS that we could find, and the physiology made sense to both of us. I looked at the possibility of setting up our own unit in the garage but soon realised that the proposed set up would not be suitable. Shortly after that I was introduced to a lady called Jackie Brightwell who was looking at setting up a chamber for those living with MS, including her husband, in the Bristol area. Jackie was part of a group called Action and Research for MS (ARMS), a breakaway group from the MS Society. So, with the commitment of a dedicated local group, money was raised to find premises in Nailsea near Bristol and purchase a chamber and its associated equipment from a company called Diveline in Ipswich – that “tank” is the one we are still using today at the Bradley Stoke Centre! The Centre was originally called the "Bristol Branch of ARMS" but when ARMS went into liquidation, we became a charity on our own, The West of England MS Therapy Centre. The Charity formed at that time is still supporting those living with MS and other neurological conditions today. Over the years that followed my passion to help those living with MS continued and we were able to introduce Physiotherapy and other therapies. I was for a long time a member of the Centre Management Committee and It became apparent that the Centre had outgrown the Nailsea site. A team of like-minded people, including Doro Pasantes, our CEO, Jackie, and our Chair at that time Peter Miller set up The Moonstone Trust with investors to raise over £1 million to build our current facility on land leased to us by South Gloucestershire Council. Sadly, Pat passed away in 2010, so didn’t see the new Centre open but she would have been100% behind the project to achieve our goal and the Centre we are now all so proud of is the result. I was so delighted that the Centre was renamed The Brightwell a few years ago. Jackie remained an active Trustee and supporter until she was well in her 80s and an inspiration to all of us. Although Jackie is no longer with us, her legacy lives on through every person who benefits from being in that tank. I live in Yatton, in the same house since 1971, and love my community. Pat and I raised our two boys here and I am now the proud Grandad to four wonderful grandchildren, all of whom are relatively local to me. I have, until recently, been an active member of our local Chapel and Rotary and hope that I am a supportive friend and neighbour in our local community of Yatton and beyond. I feel truly privileged that over the years, I have worked with, and helped train, numerous Volunteers. whose level of commitment and passion is quite overwhelming. I have been a Regional Training Advisor, now called Oxygen National Advisor, working with other Centres. Recently I have been involved with others in the setting up of the standards and training programmes for the Neuro Therapy Network, formerly known as the MS National Therapy Centres. These programmes offer standards, operational guidelines, and new training modules for about 50 Centres across the UK, Gibraltar, and Jersey.  How things have moved forwards over the years! I am still passionate today about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and the great work carried out at The Brightwell. I am always pleased to see members, new and old, benefitting from their experiences at The Brightwell and in Oxygen Therapy and hope that they enjoy becoming part of the Brightwell family because it is such a positive and rewarding place. Personally, I cannot begin to say how much being involved with The West of England MS Therapy Centre has meant to me over the years.  I have made so many genuine friends and met so many inspirational people who have become part of my life for which, I am deeply grateful. I look forward to every time I am “on duty “and miss being there when I’ve been unwell or unable to attend. Please come and say hello if you see me at the Centre and I’m always available for any questions about the treatment or volunteer training. Best Wishes to everyone. Keith

Take a look at our April 2024 Newsletter!

Photo source: Sportograf.com We are incredibly grateful to Madeleine Wade for  representing us at this year’s  London Marathon. This year’s event was a record-breaker with over 50,000 people taking part. Competitors ranged from Elite International Athletes to one man carrying a fridge and one lady dressed in a full Rhino costume! Every year Charities can apply for places, this time we were lucky enough to be eligible for a place via a nomination through the Neuro Therapy Network. Madeleine approached us and she was our chosen runner. As Madeleine says on her Just Giving page “in a moment of madness I decided to enter the London Marathon!” Although she enjoys keeping fit and taking on a challenge, until recently she has not been a runner. Madeleine rows competitively for Portishead Pilot Gig Club, however, she has never run a marathon and the last half marathon she ran was over 10 years ago! She was introduced to The Brightwell through Doro Pasantes, our CEO, who is also a PPGC rower. She admitted to Doro that the training was much tougher than she had expected due to injury. All the way through her rigorous training schedule she was supported by her daughter Annabelle and son Will, who as you can see in the photo above ran with her on the day. Madeleine commented “It was such a wonderful event to be part of. The noise and encouragement from the crowds is incredible. For me personally, it was such a sense of achievement to finish the race and to have my two children with me made it a day never to forget” As well as this incredible personal achievement Madeleine has raised an impressive £2,000 for us here at The Brightwell. If you would like to show your appreciation, by supporting her, please click the link below. https://www.justgiving.com/page/madeleine-wade-1702680019408

You may recall that last month the Physio Team went to the 2024 MS Trust Conference. This was a great success and below is a brief summary. Please follow the link to view the full report. This report has been compiled from feedback supplied by the three Physiotherapist who attended the 3-day conference, namely  Amrik Sidhu, Bhumika Vaghela and Max Hinton. The conference took place between Sunday 17  and Tuesday 19 March  at The Leonardo Conference Centre, Hinckley in the East Midlands. The cost of the Brightwell Physiotherapy team was funded through the MS Trust Bursary Scheme, National Lottery and the Brightwell’s training budget. Unfortunately, Millie Rutherford could not attend due to illness. The team had decided upon a strategy of attending as many seminars and workshops as possible in order to gain the maximum exposure to new information, to share between each other and to feedback to the team on return to work. It was an extensive programme starting at 7am and going through to 10pm on two nights, but this did include breaks and a Conference Dinner on the Monday Evening. The overall feedback was that the conference was very enjoyable, well organized and packed full of opportunities to learn, The team have a clear strategy about how their findings will be used. Amrik says ”We have also made links with the Charity Overcoming MS and are working with them to offer an informative workshop at the Brightwell, introducing a healthy lifestyle program and sharing their free resources with our Service Users. We plan to conduct similar exercises at the Brightwell to increase the level of excellence in the services we provide to members. We are currently working on a guideline document to raise awareness amongst our Centre colleagues, staff and volunteers around self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and prevention. Our next task is to introduce cognitive behavioural therapies in our exercise classes to help people with pain and fatigue symptoms. We are extremely grateful to have been a part of this years’ MS Trust conference and look forward to implementing all the learning we have taken from the seminars, lectures, and workshops we attended and all the links we have made with other HCPs and organisations.” Please view or download the full report below

It was great to welcome a group of volunteers from Wain Homes to the Centre last week. They did a great job of getting in the garden and despite the chilly weather, the grounds are really coming to life. The hardworking team brought loads of new plants adding much needed colour and variety. We are delighted to be Wain Homes’ Charity of the Year for 2024, and look forward to them being involved in  more visits and events. Thank you all for your help and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

As you are no doubt aware we are part of the Neuro Therapy Network. For MSAW 2024, NTN is again teaming up with MS Society, MS Trust, MS-UK, MS Together, Overcoming MS and Shift.ms to raise awareness about the realities of living with MS. Together, they will be launching #MSUnfiltered - a national campaign highlighting MS symptoms that can be difficult to talk about. NTN’s pre-campaign survey shows that many people feel embarrassed by some of their more sensitive symptoms, often avoiding seeking help, or hiding them from family and friends. #MSUnfiltered aims to break the stigma and give people the confidence to speak up when they need support. During the week we will be sharing  posts and stories. If you would like to add your own personal MS journey, please let us know and speak to Doro. Keep an eye out in general for information using #MSUnfiltered

Please can you take a few minutes to read Katie’s inspirational story on her Enthuse fundraising page and support her if you can. Katie has overcome terrible and very frightening symptoms of dealing with her diagnosis of Encephalitis and has found running to have helped her on the road to recovery. This determination and perseverance has meant that incredibly, Katie is running the London Marathon on Sunday! Please see Katie’s full story and support her by clicking on the link below https://2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/katie-mauthoor-5dc8b Katie lives in Ilford  in Essex and has not even been to the Centre, but chose to support us, which is incredible. She sent us this message "I'm writing to you as I wanted to inform you that I have chosen to support your charity for my London marathon run. I read about your association and think it would have really helped me back in 2008 when I was diagnosed with Encephalitis and consequently with cluster migraines. In fact running saved me, as you can read from my story.  I saw that you do oxygen therapy and I would also be interested if ever there was an opportunity for me to come and visit you to try this out. I hope you do not mind me supporting you like this but at the time I felt so isolated and I'm sure I would have got a lot out of an environment like at Brightwell. Best wishes, Katie Mauthoor" You can also follow Katie on her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/KMAUTHOOR Thank you so much from everyone at The Brightwell. Good Luck on Sunday! We look forward to welcoming you to The Brightwell very soon!

On behalf of our Chairman, Geoff Mayell and the Board of Trustees, you are invited to attend our 2024 Annual General Meeting. This year’s AGM, open to all Charity Members, Volunteers, Members of Staff (not on duty) and all supporters * will be held at the Brightwell on Thursday 25 April, from 14:00 – 15:30 at the Centre or via Zoom *N.B only current member have voting rights For those who cannot attend in person, the  meeting will also be available on a live feed via Zoom, please ask at reception for the Zoom link details. Please let us know if you are able to attend either in person or via Zoom. Pastries and refreshments will be available after the AGM for all those attending the meeting at the Centre. Agenda A presentation from Sascha Leigh, Counsellor at the Brightwell The acceptance of the Minutes of the last AGM The Chairman’s Update The CEO’s 2023 Centre Review A review of the Centre’s Finances for 2023 The election of Trustees AOB A vote of thanks If you have any queries, please call 01454 201686 or email hello@thebrightwell.org.uk

The Brightwell is delighted to announce that we have been selected by Wain Homes Severn Valley as their Charity of the Year. We are honoured to have been chosen to work in partnership with such a forward-thinking and community-minded company. Representatives from Wain Homes recently visited the Centre to see for themselves the extensive facilities and learn about the vital gap in provision that the Brightwell fills for people living with neurological conditions. It was also an opportunity for the Wain Homes team to seek volunteering opportunities for their staff, as part of their ‘helping hands’ initiative. Teams from Wain homes have been working hard over the last few years to make a real impact in their local communities by rolling their sleeves up and getting stuck in! They have helped many local charities and community groups and continue their mission to provide a year full of good deeds in 2024. Pictured - Nickie Cochrane, Maisie Boyd, Jess Thorne, Wain Homes, Victoria Hocquard, Lara Carnell, The Brightwell, and Claire Hayward and Claire Quilliam from Wain Homes The Brightwell is beyond excited for this partnership and very much look forward to events and activities throughout the year. Wain homes will be supporting The Brightwell in their upcoming corporate abseil, and hope to pitch in at other fundraising events throughout the year. The flagship event will be the annual Golf Tournament at Kendleshire Golf Club.  Teams will be competing for the coveted champions crown on 19 July. Wain Homes will also be joining our Brightwell 100 Corporate Network Thank you once again to all at Wain Homes Severn Valley from everyone at The Brightwell; we look forward to seeing you for coffee and cake again very soon!

The team fundraising for The Brightwell at The London Landmark Half Marathon on Sunday 7 April did a fantastic job. We originally had a team of 5, but Jemima had to withdraw due to a back injury. Our Brightwell team had a great run and all made excellent times around the two hour mark! The weather was very kind and stayed dry albeit a bit breezy. Apparently, if you are a competitive runner, this event is one of the most enjoyable ones to take part in. The crowds were very supportive with lots of entertainment en route. Our Lead Physio Amrik reported back “I was really flagging  but there was an amazing group of drummers encouraging all the runners, plus a gospel choir. My last name was on my vest and people were calling out “Come on Sidhu!”, it really gave me the motivation to put a spring in my step, I even had a quick dance in front of the drummers! It really was a great experience.” “Team Millie” was made up of Millie’s Dad Stu and neighbour Sarah. As many of you know Millie is a key member of our physio team and always gets behind any fundraising events. Millie and her family made a weekend of it and stayed in London to cheer them on and enjoy the day. Simon who is the Centre Manager at the Willow Brook Shopping Centre in Bradley Stoke has been making every opportunity to train, including running around the Centre when it was closed – much to the amusement of the security staff! Thank you all so much, your fundraising is very much appreciated by us all at The Brightwell. There is still time to sponsor them by clicking on the links below. Simon Whiting, Manager at the Willow Brook Centre,  and fantastic supporters of The Brightwell Simon Whiting is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com) Stu Rutherford Stu is Millie’s Dad, Millie is part of our physio team Stu Rutherford is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com) Sarah McAllister Sarah is a supporter of our work and Millie's neighbour Sarah McAllister is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com) Amrik  Sidhu, The Brightwell’s Lead Physiotherapist Amrik Singh Sidhu is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com)

Eyes down for a fun-filled evening of light-hearted bingo and socialising When and where 22 May 2024, 18:30 – 22:30 Bradley Stoke, Bradbury House, Wheatfield Dr, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 9DB, UK About Doors open at 6.30pm; eyes down at 7pm 6 bingo prize games, 2 cash games and one 'silly bingo' games BYO drinks and nibbles to make a night of it Whether you come alone to make friends, as a couple, family group or with a large group of friends, everyone is most welcome! Buy your tickets here!

Everyone at The Brightwell would like to wish a massive “Good Luck” to those taking part in the London Landmark Half Marathon on Sunday. As always, we are overwhelmed by the effort that so many supporters put into raising funds for our great charity. Below is a list of runners and links to their donation pages. Please support them if you can. Simon Whiting, Manager at the Willow Brook Centre,  and fantastic supporters of The Brightwell Simon Whiting is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com) Jemima Coulter, Jemima is the partner of Max, one of our physio team members, Jemima Coulter is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com) Stu Rutherford Stu is Millie’s Dad, Millie is part of our physio team  Stu Rutherford is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com) Sarah McAllister Sarah is a supporter of our work Sarah McAllister is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com) Amrik  Sidhu, The Brightwell’s Lead Physiotherapist Amrik Singh Sidhu is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com) Our Physio team  are making a great effort lead by Amrik who is taking part  supported by  family members of the team as well. Thank you everyone, we look forward to seeing some great photos!