Winsford charity with 32 years' service needs your help to win share of £16,000

Over the past 32 years, the charity has developed into a centre of excellence and remains the only centre of its kind in the UK and Europe helping people live with disabling conditions.

When we asked you, our readers, which Winsford charity should represent the town in our Northwich and Winsford Guardian Cash for Charities campaign, nominations came flooding in for the NeuroMuscular Centre (NMC).

The Gannett Foundation, which is our parent company’s charitable arm, is giving away £128,000 to support local charities across the country and we have a £16,000 share to distribute across the north west.

Over the next two-and-a-half weeks, you are invited to collect tokens printed inside the paper which can then be sent to collection points across the area or posted in to us.

Each token collected will be used to allocate the cash to the nominated charity – so if The NeuroMuscular Centre collects 50 per cent of all tokens collected it will receive 50 per cent of the £16,000.

Any money that the Winsford charity receives will go towards replacing and upgrading the physiotherapy equipment in the accessible gym as most of the equipment is adapted and custom built.

Gym equipment has to be adapted and custom made so that it is accessible to all users

Claire James, marketing manager at the centre, said: “The NMC was born out of a dearth of services and opportunities for adults with neuromuscular conditions, including muscular dystrophy, and family’s fears of ‘dropping off a cliff’ in terms of service and support.

“It was a determination to plug that gap combined with an equally strong determination to enable fulfilling and productive lives for those living with these disabling conditions that led to the foundation of NMC.

“Our physiotherapy service provides ongoing treatment for adults and young people with neuromuscular conditions where the NHS does not.

“Physio is crucial for maintaining muscle strength and helping with pain management, enabling people to do the things they love for as long as possible.

We also offer hydrotherapy, and are home to our neuromuscular gym, which is a purpose-built facility and currently the only one in Europe.

“The gym enables people to join in with active exercise and use our adaptable equipment to suit all access needs.”

The NeuroMuscular is a centre of excellence and the only one of its kind in the UK and Europe

NMC doesn’t just focus on physical needs, but offers support and advice on benefits, adaptable equipment and work as well as independent living, transport and home adaptations.

They also have talking services and a wide range of activities and specialist groups to everyone in the NMC community, including anyone with a neuromuscular condition, their family, friends and carers.

Claire added: “Many of our staff have a neuromuscular condition, and we’re proud to enable people to lead fulfilling and productive lives.”

To get this week’s token turn to page 8 in the Northwich and Winsford Guardian.

The deadline for votes is Sunday, November 20.

You can post your tokens or drop them off at collection points which are located at the following places:

• NMC Design & Print, Woodford, Winsford, CW7 4EH

• Morrison’s, Nat Lane, Winsford, CW7 3GZ

• Asda, The Drumber, Winsford, CW7 1BD

• Morrison’s, Newton Bank, Middlewich, CW10 9EX

• SKN Traders, Weaver Street, Winsford, CW7 4AJ

• Spar/Over Square Shell Garage, Delamere Street, Winsford, CW7 2LU

• Tesco Express, 1 Wheelock Street, Middlewich, CW10 9AG

• Tesco Express, 76 Warmington Lane, Middlewich, CW10 0DJ

• Middlewich News and Post Office, 49 Wheelock Street, Middlewich, CW10 9AB