Inaugural ‘Hello Hampshire’ family event celebrates Muscle Help Foundation’s new HQ in county

Posted on July 28th, 2023

The Muscle Help Foundation was delighted to hold a very special beneficiary gathering in Hampshire on Friday 7th July 2023, the county in which the charity’s new HQ is now based, having moved from Hertfordshire. Our friends at Naomi House and Jacksplace Hospices for children and young adults near Winchester generously provided the venue for the gathering. Huge muscletastic thanks to the team for their wonderful support especially to Mark Smith, Chief Executive of Mark is the Chief Executive of Naomi House & Jacksplace.

Photography Credit: Chris Meany

We welcomed many beneficiaries and their families from across Hampshire, but also a few families travelled from West Sussex and Dorset. They were joined by friends and supporters of the charity who all came together for what was the charity’s first social gathering in Hampshire. As the charity marks its 20 anniversary, guests also heard a little more about the ongoing work of the charity from CEO Michael McGrath.

The afternoon tea style event was filled with joy, much laughter and chatter. Social connection is so important to the wellbeing of vulnerable beneficiaries and their families, especially post pandemic and with the cost-of-living crisis.  It was a wonderful event that brought together our community of Muscle Warriors across the county of Hampshire.

About NAOMI HOUSE & JACKSPLACE HOSPICES

Naomi House & Jacksplace are hospices supporting life limited and life threatened children and young adults from Hampshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Dorset, the Isle of Wight and beyond. Their vision is that every child, young adult, and their families receive the care services they need, when and where they need them, and for as long as needed.

For more information: www.naomihouse.org.uk

ABOUT 2023 – MHF’S 20th ANNIVERSARY YEAR

2023 sees the charity reach a milestone, its 20th Anniversary – since 2003, it has touched the lives of 1000’s of people across the UK living with Muscular Dystrophy, from families and local communities to schools and businesses; today, its impact and reach continues to grow.

Plans for many other unique Muscle Dream experiences and programmes in the 2023 / 2024 period are shaping up – right now, with the cost of living crisis in mind, every single penny counts, so please, if you’re able to support our cause with a donation, whatever you can give, whether £6.57 or £20.00 to mark MHF’s 20^th anniversary, all donations will be hugely appreciated – thank you.

To push on with its 657 mission, the charity is not only looking to establish new partnerships and collaborations but like many small charities, it desperately needs support in order to continue its important work – if you can help, please donate £20.00 or whatever you can give by clicking HERE – thank you.

GREAT PARTNERSHIPS START WITH A STORY – WILL YOU HELP TELL OURS?

Part of this milestone anniversary year is a focus on storytelling, a powerful tool that can influence behaviours, change mindsets and move people to take action. We know that storytelling in today’s digital age is crucial – stories have to cut through which is why we have published several new beneficiary case studies, powerfully illustrating via personal insights, emotions and feelings why MHF’s work matters and how you can easily support our mission by helping to tell our story.

ABOUT THE CHARITY’S IMPACT

Uplifting, joyful and often cathartic in nature, MHF’s academically validated work and impact is rooted in the idea that well executed, shared experiences can be powerfully transformative in nature.

ABOUT MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY (MD)

Thanks to MHF’s friends at Muscular Dystrophy UK, new research reveals that approximately 110,000 people (babies, children and adults) in the UK live with muscle-wasting conditions. Muscular Dystrophy is a progressive condition that gets worse over time. It is the single biggest genetic killer of children in the world today. It robs sufferers of their mobility, their independence and finally for those with the most severe type (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy or DMD), their lives. Although there is some excellent research going on around the world, there is still currently no known treatment.

ABOUT MHF’S UNIQUE POINTS OF DIFFERENCE

Over the past 12-months, MHF’s tailored approach in operationalising bespoke virtual ‘person-centred’ Muscle Dream programmes continued to deliver positive outcomes for beneficiaries and families. The ‘lived experience’ of the charity’s CEO (Michael McGrath) who has Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD2A) and who is the driving force of the organisations work, provides both a unique, valuable and trusting influence on those for whom MHF exists to serve.

ABOUT MHF’S VULNERABLE BENEFICIARIES

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is the most severe form of Muscular Dystrophy (MD) – it is life-limiting affecting approximately 1 in 3,500 new-born boys. The vast majority (some 96%) of MHF’s beneficiaries are boys and young adults with DMD. On average, those aged 10-13yrs will transition into a manual wheelchair. By the time they reach 17-19yrs, breathing, cardio and diminishing arm movements are increasingly prevalent.

THINK 657 – THE MORE UNUSUAL AND INTRIGUING, THE BETTER!

MHF is running a national campaign called The Power of 657 and its mission is simple – to deliver 657 transformational interventions for children, young people and their families with Muscular Dystrophy in the UK, that’s one life-changing experience for every muscle in the human body.

WHAT’S YOUR 657 CHALLENGE?

We would like you to think about the number 657 – the charity is on the lookout for all/any links to the number 657 and as such, we are keen to establish mutually beneficial collaborations ideally around 657. So, get in touch if you know of any connections in your world or in your work and remember, the more unusual, the more intriguing, the better