Pull out stops again

 

THE whole village of Baydon is being encouraged to get behind a £500,000 appeal for a new Multiple Sclerosis therapy centre in Swindon. Villagers are being asked to give the same support to this charity as they did last year to the Starfish Appeal for King's College Hospital in London.

 

They raised more than £7,200 to help refurbish the Mountbatten children's ward, where Rosie Walker, a pupil at St Nicholas School in the village, received a life-saving liver transplant as a baby.

 

It is the courage of another villager that has inspired shopkeeper Debbie Moxon to urge Baydon to pull out the fundraising stops again, this time in support of the new therapy centre.

 

Her friend Fern Andrews, who has two teenage sons, was 24 when diagnosed with MS nearly 30 years ago. Now she is confined to a wheelchair and needs full time care.

 

Mrs Moxton, who runs Baydon PO Stores, said: "We are going to help as much as we can for the Swindon therapy centre.

"We are all inspired by Fern's determination and her love of life, despite all her problems."

 

The Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre is celebrating its 25th anniversary during 2008 by making a start on a new building to replace its ageing premises at Cheney Manor. Its £500,000 Moving Soon appeal is to pay for a purpose designed building at Rivermead in West Swindon.

 

Outside her shop Mrs Moxon has what she calls an Arthur Daly stall where people can leave unwanted items for others to buy.

She is also collecting raffle prizes for a charity auction the centre will be running on April 25 at the Swindon Hilton. Donations can be left at her shop or people can leave auction promises of goods or services.

 

Thursday 28th February 2008

By Nigel Kerton

Gazette & Herald