Christmas Lunch
On Wednesday 11th December 2019, 19 of us attended our second annual Christmas Lunch at the Hermitage Park Hotel Coalville. The group consisted of some of our group members with their friends and family for a lovely 4 course lunch and time for a chat with drinks after in the lounge.
Canine Partners
On Saturday 16th November 2019 10 members from the group attended an Information Session at the Canine Partners Assistance Dog Training Centre at Osgathorpe Leicestershire. This is a charity run centre that trains dogs to help and assist people in all kinds of ways so these people can feel more independent and share the love and companionship with these dogs.
We were met at the centre by a friendly group of people with the dogs and invited to a hot drink and biscuits. Then we had a presentation from one of the volunteers of how the centre works and how they train the dogs with a short film to give us an insight of how much work goes in to train these dogs to the required standards. To finish off we had a talk from a young lady who had one of these dogs and she explained how much the dog had changed her life. What an inspiration she was so proud of her companion and so happy with the love and friendship they both shared.
Well done everyone that have supported the Canine Partners Charity.
Manor Day Visit
On Tuesday 1st October 2019 we had another social day out with our friends from the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation Support Thursday Group, a relaxing chat with friends and a fantastic roast beef lunch with jam sponge and custard for dessert. Not forgetting the hot drink and biscuits on arrival and again a hot drink and cake in the afternoon. All this provided by the wonderful volunteers at the Ulverscroft Manor. Well done from all of us you all make perfect hosts.
Shepshed Lions Club Carnival
On Bank Holiday Monday 26th August 2019 we held our second outdoor awareness event of the summer a Carnival at Glenmore Park in Shepshed organised by the Shepshed Lions Club. A beautiful setting in a park in the centre of Shepshed. The weather this time was fantastic sunny all day long. It was a case of sun cream and sun hats with plenty of cold drinks rather than storm straps required for the gazebo. The weather certainly brought the public out in their hundreds. Again with the numbers attending the carnival our stall was well visited and we were able to pass information on to a lot of people. Thanks to everyone that helped out on the day.
Ibstock Country Fair
On Sunday 18th August 2019 we held our first outdoor Fibromyalgia Awareness display at the Ibstock Country Fair. To say the least it turned out to be challenging with the weather. On the day of the event it kept dry but it was windy which caused problems with the display board. We got a little wet the day before putting the gazebo up but nothing to complain about. The attendance at the Country Fair was very good and we had a lot of response from people coming up to us and asking questions about Fibromyalgia even fellow sufferers, so we were able to give out our leaflets and information about our website, so they could go away and look us up in their own time and that is the purpose of these awareness displays. So well done everyone that helped us over the weekend and a special thankyou to Stuart Farmer the Country Fair organiser and his team of helpers for a well organised event. Well done.
Canal Trip
On Saturday 6th July 2019 we had another great day out with friends. This time a relaxing day out on the canal and river with the Fibromyalgia Friends Together group from Loughborough to the Plough Inn at Normanton on Soar where we had lunch and then headed back to the boat yard at Loughborough. All this was with the Peter Le Marchant Trust who provide day outings on the waterways for people of all ages with any kind of disability or serious illness. Our volunteer skipper for the day Chris and his crew made us very welcome and were very professional, a credit to the Trust. Everyone I have spoke too enjoyed the day out and found it very relaxing but also entertaining. Well done the Peter Le Marchant Trust, probably try the other route next time.
Social Gathering at Ulverscroft Manor
Our second social gathering of the year and what an enjoyable day it was. On Tuesday 2nd April 2019 our group joined up with the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation Support Thursday Group for a social gathering at the Ulverscroft Manor for twenty-four of us. The day started off with a hot drink and biscuits. Then later a two-course lunch which included roast beef vegetables and mashed potatoes, followed by lemon sponge and custard. Then later in the afternoon finished off with another hot drink and cake. In-between all this lovely food and drinks there was plenty of time to socialize and even have a ride on the Golf Buggy round the grounds of Ulverscroft Manor and over to Ulverscroft Grange. Thankyou to all the staff and volunteers of the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation for making us so welcome and our day such a success and for the fantastic food.
Sponsored Walk
What a fantastic day we all had on our sponsored walk event we held on Sunday 24th March. There were 24 walkers that took part plus a few had their dogs with them, in a 4 mile walk from Ibstock Town Cricket Club through the local housing estates onto Sence Valley Forest Park, round the park and then back to the cricket club. Where there were well earned drinks and a buffet laid on for everyone.
The whole event attracted 30 to 40 people who all joined in for an enjoyable social afternoon. We would as a group like to thank everyone for their help making this such a successful event and especially all the people that donated their hard-earnt money to such a worthwhile curse.
Plus, a special thanks to Ibstock Town Cricket Club for letting us hold the event at their club house and making us feel so welcome. The total collected in donations was £924.00. Well done everyone for your great effort and support.
Christmas Lunch
In December 2018 we held our first Fibromyalgia Friends Together Christmas Lunch at the Charnwood Arms Coalville Leicestershire. This was well attended by group members and their family and friends. We also intend to make this an annual event.
Awareness Displays
In August 2018 we held our first ever Fibromyalgia Awareness Display at Morrisons Supermarket in Coalville Leicestershire. There was a lot of interest shown from the shoppers in the display, some taking our informative books and leaflets from the stand with them too introduce themselves to Fibromyalgia. In December 2018 we changed things slightly and held an awareness display at a Christmas Craft Fair at the Gorse Covert Community Centre Loughborough Leicestershire. This was a small but well organized event and we were helped by one of our members daughters and her group of young friends to try and help spread the word and awareness of Fibromyalgia. The teenagers also tried face painting which was well received especially by the young children who came to see Santa Claus in the centre’s grotto.