West Dorset Branch

- Location
  
  Dorchester
- Contact
  
  Rose Amey
- Phone
  
  01305 788341
- Email
  
  [email protected]

Welcome to the West Dorset Branch

The branch is run entirely by volunteers and aims to provide the best possible support to local people with MND, their families, and carers.

About us

Welcome to the West Dorset Branch of the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association.

Run by volunteers we are here for people suspected of or living with MND and for anybody affected by MND in West Dorset.

We do the following:

• We raise funds and provide funding, primarily through our grants programme

• We provide information and updates, primarily through our Facebook group

• We provide information about care and support options in the local area, this includes linking to our network of Support Volunteers and to professionals

• We provide support for people living with or affected by MND, primarily through our monthly support meetings

Events

Branch Support Meetings take place at local garden centres and are open to anyone in the area living with or affected by MND.
These social and supportive meetings run monthly on a Monday between 11.30-2.00pm and include lunch. No booking required.

Forthcoming Garden Centre Meetings:
August 19th : Goulds Garden Centre, Weymouth (DT3 6AD)
September 16th : Castle Gardens, Sherborne (DT9 5NR)
October 21st : Goulds Garden Centre, Weymouth
November 11th Castle Gardens, Sherborne
December 9th Castle Gardens, Sherborne

Latest News

Bridport Christmas Tree Festival

We have a Christmas tree at Bridport Christmas Tree Festival this year which is held at Bridport United Church. Our theme is 'Friendship and Support' which is at the heart of everything we do as a branch. This festival will be open until Sunday 15th December. Please do visit this lovely place, there are lots of beautifully decorated trees from a variety of local charities. We appreciate any donations which help us to support those with MND in West Dorset.

a christmas tree decorated with blue and orange lights and decorations

Easyfundraising - Online Shopping

We are now on Easyfundraising! You can help us to raise donations for our branch when online shopping by using easyfundraising.org.uk. Sign up for free and select MND West Dorset as your cause. There are over 7000 brands that will donate including Amazon, Etsy, John Lewis, M&S and Tesco to name a few. The retailer will make a donation to us at no added cost to you.

Mary's Skydive

On 31st August one of our long-time supporters, Mary Bates, completed a 15,000ft skydive dressed as Spiderman in memory of her son, Spencer Bates, to raise money for MND charities. As part of a team of 7 all dressed as Spiderman, they have raised an incredible £14,000 to date!

You can read more from Mary on this Dorset Echo article and find out more about her future fundraising plans. You can still donate via their Just Giving page.

Seven people dressed up as Spiderman having completed a fundraising skydive

May/June Events

On June 26th we held our annual street collection in Dorchester and we are so happy to announce that we raised over £450 that morning! Thank you to everyone who gave up their time to stand and collect on a very hot day and thank you to everyone who donated and supported us.

On May 18th two of our volunteers, Richard and Caroline, attended the Bridport Charter Fair which was a great day raising awareness of MND and the work of our branch. Later that day we then went to Rob'n'Roll a fundraising concert at the Weymouth Pavilion organised by Ed Hintze in memory of his friend Rob Goodwin. It was a fantastic event which raised an incredible £7498.53!

In May (11th-18th) we were on duty serving teas, coffees and cakes at a Quilt Exhibition at Eype Centre for the Arts. We were very grateful to the ladies of the Eype Schoolroom Quilting Group for their support during the week and for their supply of delicious cakes. Proceeds of the refreshments during this event raised approximately £450 for our branch.