Leicestershire Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Therapy Centre, has been awarded £40,000 by Postcode Community Trust.
The MS Centre focuses on physio services and oxygen therapy, helping people with MS and other illnesses to actively manage their symptoms and lives better.
Founded by people living with MS, the charity now helps people of all ages and backgrounds who live with diseases such as cancer, diabetes, stroke, Long COVID or have been impacted by road accident or sports injuries.
Centre manager Josephine Hill said: “The centre is not only here to offer therapy in the physical sense, there is an immense sense of community here. People have a support network here, patients stay behind after therapy, and we even get family members of patients come and sit in, to have a coffee and cake and support each other.”
Peter Crossley, a volunteer and service user with MS, said: “If the MS centre wasn’t here, I would definitely feel more isolated and alone. The NHS is fabulous, but it can only do so much. We need centres like this to offer people therapy on a more regular basis, as well as always have an open door if you need a chat with people in the same situation as you.”
In October this year alone, the MS Therapy Centre saw 165 people for physiotherapy, and 111 people came in for oxygen therapy, with a total of over 400 oxygen sessions taking place.
Josephine added: “It’s so special to receive £40,000 as the MS Therapy Centre is about to mark its 40th anniversary next year! One of our exercise bikes has just broken, and is beyond repair, so some of the money can go towards refreshing our equipment.
“We’re so grateful to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, thank you!”
Source: https://www.postcodelottery.co.uk/lottery-winners/09-november-2024-le2-8qe-leicester-ps1-million