Larne MS Society volunteers commended at Hillsborough

Dedicated Larne volunteers were praised at a charity awards ceremony, which was held at Hillsborough Castle recently.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Jan 2014, 23:00 BST
MS Society Larne Branch volunteers (from left) Colin Richardson, Margaret Fry, Aimee Dix, Tanya McKillop, Linda Erskine, Jenny Bindley and Caroline Millar with Health Minister Edwin Poots at the Hillsborough reception. INLT 50-627-CONMS Society Larne Branch volunteers (from left) Colin Richardson, Margaret Fry, Aimee Dix, Tanya McKillop, Linda Erskine, Jenny Bindley and Caroline Millar with Health Minister Edwin Poots at the Hillsborough reception. INLT 50-627-CON
MS Society Larne Branch volunteers (from left) Colin Richardson, Margaret Fry, Aimee Dix, Tanya McKillop, Linda Erskine, Jenny Bindley and Caroline Millar with Health Minister Edwin Poots at the Hillsborough reception. INLT 50-627-CON

Volunteers from the MS Society Larne Branch attended the event, which was part of the charity’s 60th anniversary celebrations. They were honoured for their role in supporting local people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Jenny Bindley, who volunteers with the branch – which provides support and information to people who are newly diagnosed, as well as organising events and fundraisers – was presented with a certificate of recognition by Health Minister Edwin Poots and Patricia Gordon, MS Society director.

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Jenny said: “I’m delighted to accept this award on behalf of all the volunteers, past and present, who have played such an important role in the MS Society Larne Branch. MS is an unpredictable condition. It attacks at random and many of the symptoms are invisible to others, which can make people feel isolated and scared. That’s why it’s so important that our branch is here to support everyone affected by MS in the local area.”

Mr Poots told the Hillsborough reception that the 15 local MS groups “make a significant contribution on the ground by making it much easier for people with MS to get support within their own community, and as we all know such locally based services really make a big difference to the quality of people’s lives”.

Patricia Gordon added: “Sixty years ago our very first volunteer, Sir Richard Cave, founded the MS Society. Since then, thousands of volunteers across the UK have been working hard to meet the needs of people affected by MS in their communities. Through their dedication and commitment they make a real difference to people living with MS.”

Around 4,000 people live with multiple sclerosis in Northern Ireland. Every one of them shares the uncertainty of life with the condition, which is usually diagnosed in the twenties and thirties. It is news that can be scary and heartbreaking.

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MS can get steadily worse, or symptoms can come and go unpredictably. The MS Society is the leading charity committed to beating MS.

For more information on the MS Society Larne Branch, call 07407670952 or visit www.mssociety.org.uk/ni

Related topics:VolunteersEdwin PootsLarneHillsborough