The construction of a new Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre in Bradley Stoke reaches another milestone this week when the roof is put into place on the structure.
Work on the building, located between Bradley Stoke Way and Wheatfield Drive (close to Primrose Bridge) has been underway since June and is set to be on target for completion by the end of the year.
The centre, which is expected to come into use in mid-January next year, will replace the existing West of England facility that has been based in Nailsea, North Somerset, for the last 25 years.
The charity behind the project has set up a live camera feed on its website, allowing people to monitor progress as it happens.
The Mayor of Bradley Stoke, Cllr Ben Walker, and other guests of the charity visited the site today to hear about progress on the building from charity leaders and supporters.
The new centre will allow the charity, which relies entirely on donations from the public for funding, to provide the physiotherapy, oxygen therapy and other treatments to many more people with the condition in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.
Multiple Sclerosis directly affects about 1,700 people in the Greater Bristol area and the MS Therapy Centre already helps 285 people, but the membership continues to grow.
Mike Gelder, chairman of the Moonstone Appeal, which was set up to raise the funds for the new centre, said:
“We are extremely pleased with the progress of the construction here in Bradley Stoke, which has been made possible entirely because of the generosity of several charities, companies and private individuals who have backed our campaign.”
“Donations back in the summer meant that we could start work on phases 1 & 2 of the development at the same time, causing less disruption and inconvenience to residents in the area, which is very important for us as these residents will be our new neighbours.”
“The building is due to be finished by the end of December and we will be moving in during the New Year. The focus of the Moonstone Appeal now is on raising the remaining £100,000 we need to enable the move to take place and people can get involved in a variety of ways.”
“There are a number of opportunities for sponsorship of rooms and equipment within the new premises as well as a scheme where people can ‘Buy a Brick’ for £10 and have their donations recorded permanently in the new centre.”
Donations should be sent to The West of England MS Therapy Centre, Units 40-42, Southfield Road Trading Estate, Nailsea, BS48 1JE, or by electronic payment on the website at: www.mstherapybristol.org.uk.
For more details about fundraising call the MS Therapy Centre on: 01275 852043.
Guests at today’s media event included two representatives from the Kendleshire Golf Club, which has been actively involved in raising funds for the new centre. Last week, the club hosted a sponsored ‘fire walk’ for the Moonstone Appeal.
Following a photo opportunity for the local media, the assembled guests and VIPs were given a tour of the inside of the new building, which is currently being fitted out.
Photo (L-R): John Doubleday (Kendleshire Golf Club), Pat Murphy (Kendleshire Golf Club), Mike Gelder (Chairman of the Moonstone Appeal), Cllr Ben Walker (Chair of Bradley Stoke Town Council), Peter Miller (Chairman of the West of England MS Therapy Centre), Janet Epplestone (Fundraising Manager at the West of England Therapy Centre).
More photos on PicasaWeb: album; slideshow (The Journal)
An upcoming art exhibition at the Grant Bradley Gallery in Bedminster is hoping to raise thousands of pounds for the MS charity following a hugely successful event last year. The show runs from 4th to 27th November and will feature many of the region’s leading artists under one roof. Each of the artists will donate 50% of the sale price to The West of England MS Therapy Centre.
