THE Rotary Club of Chipping Sodbury has helped raise over £11,000 towards essential equipment for two medical care-providing charities.


The club has supported The West of England MS Therapy Centre, Bradley Stoke, and the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC), which provides its services across South Gloucestershire, by giving both charities funds for vital apparatus over the past two weeks.


A donation of £1,865 enabled the therapy centre to purchase physiotherapy equipment to move patients with severe mobility disabilities to the various items of equipment needed for their treatment; hoisting slings and soft rolls used to support limbs during treatment.


Terri McDonald, head of funding at The West of England Therapy Centre, said: “Such a donation is always very welcome and will undoubtedly make a huge difference to the lives of people attending our centre for treatment.”


The centre provides treatments and therapies to people living with Multiple Sclerosis, including physiotherapy, oxygen treatment, counselling, acupuncture, reflexology and aromatherapy.


Working with 13 other Rotary Clubs across Gloucestershire and Bristol, the Chipping Sodbury club raised sufficient funds to enable the GWAAC, who are part of the regional 999-response service working closely with NHS hospitals, but entirely charity funded, to purchase a video laryngoscope costing £9,863.


Laryngoscopy is a medical procedure that is used to obtain a view of the vocal folds and the glottis..
Video laryngoscopes provide a consistently clear, real-time view of the airway and tube placement, enabling quick intubation.


John Christensen, the chief executive of GWAAC, said: “We are so thankful for the generosity and kindness shown to us by the Rotary Clubs in District 1100, their donation has enabled our charity to purchase a vital piece of kit, our crew members are jumping for joy.”


 John Hatherell, president of the rotary club, said: “Working with other Rotary Clubs in our district has clearly demonstrated that we are in a position to make a real difference to the lives of local people.”

 

To find out more about the charities visit www.mstherapybristol.org.uk and www.greatwesternairambulance.com.