Hi Folks!

How are you all doing? Hope you enjoyed the Bowling night. I must admit I didn't do too well actually knocking those skittles over, but I had a lot of fun anyway!

You may be wondering why you have received a complimentary copy of New Pathways this month. Well there is a specific reason why you have received this, apart from the fact that it's a totally brilliant read. My life is changing and though I have not yet taken the plunge I am planning to start working part-time for the MSRC (Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre), helping to ensure their web-page becomes the best MS web-page in the world. Folk at the MSRC do not mess about, they aim high, the sky is the limit as far as they are concerned and I am concerned.

As many of you may know I do a lot of work for this magazine and in many ways my
newsletter ends up duplicating this work, only their version is far more extensive, well
edited, and glossy to boot. As I will have less time on my hands, instead of my
newsletter I am now asking you to subscribe to New Pathways. So please do it now
so you don't miss out!!!

Subscription costs are £10 a year for this bimonthly magazine and don't forget if you
genuinely cannot afford the subscription costs, the MSRC will send the magazine for
free.

This could be the finest tenner you've ever spend. Our best defence against MS is to get wise to ways of helping ourselves and managing it. Other people who care about you can help you and offer advise but only you can change your life at the end of the day so it's up to YOU!

To subscribe to New Pathways simply tear out and fill in the subscription card to be found inside the magasine. Any further questions give them a quick call on 0800 783 0518 or email themsrc@yahoo.com. Their old webpage is to be found at www.msrc.co.uk and I will keep you posted about the new one when it is finally launched!!!

I still intend to send out my newsletter as usual but this will now focus on Regional activities and meetings, saving me time and avoiding duplication of the MS information & articles! Life changes and we have to move forward with it don't we. If you would like to help me further with the newsletter, articles, jokes, and the actual mailing then please give me a call with your ideas! All contributions are welcome.

Sylvie (Editor)

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This is the beginning of a new chapter for GYMS working together with the MRSC. Together we have plans to organise "MS with Attitude" Groups in different parts of the country, so people with MS can get together and help each other to help themselves! What's the Attitude I hear you say? The Attitude is about facing MS and Giving a Damn about your future with MS in your life. It's all about being pro-active about MS and not just sitting back and pinning all your hopes on some wonder drug that will miraculously make MS go away. Though there is always hope for a cure our time for ACTION IS NOW and that is what New Pathways and MS with Attitude is all about.

OK so you have MS, that's a reality you can try to run away from but you can't hide forever, better to face MS sooner rather than later! Why? So you can search out supplements, therapies and drugs that work for you and so help you to re-claim control over your life.

For some of you if may well be that you feel relatively OK and that's great, you may not need to make too many lifestyle changes at present. Your focus may be on Living life to the Full and good for you! I can't fault this attitude as long as you're not living for the minute out of fear for the future. It's important to get the balance right. I used to live life pretty manically and this was not healthy. I was living in fear as if every day were my last. I don't regret living life to the full, but with Hindsight I do wish I'd taken better care of myself and of my future.

I was unaware that I could help myself and stabilise MS myself, and so I remained an MS Victim for too long and paid a heavy price when MS did catch up with me. Live life to the full by all means but be wise, search and learn. For-armed is for-warned as they say, and it's good to be Aware of all the options open to you. You never know when you might need them!

Sylvie

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GYMS Library of Books & Videos

GYMS now has got a library of MS Self-help Books & Videos thanks to the generous donation of £300 from Westfield Health for this specific purpose.

See Pg.3 to view the present List!!!

These Books & Videos are available for you to borrow at any time. Simply phone Sylvie and arrange a time to come and browse them (Contact Details: Back Page).

There is only one condition, and that is that when you borrow a book, you must ensure that you bring it back within a few weeks. These books are available to anyone who feels they would benefit from reading them, but they are not to be borrowed put on one side and forgotten about. Other people will want to read them too!!! Knowledge is Power!

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GYMS Library to Date:

Multiple Sclerosis-A Self-Help Guide-
Judy Graham

Multiple Sclerosis, Pregnancy & Parenthood-
Judy Graham.

From MS to Wellness-
A Personal Story of Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis-Betty Iams.

The Complete MS Body-Manual-
A handbook of effective natural treatment for people with Multiple Sclerosis-
Susie Cornell

The MSRC A to Z Guide to Complimentary Therapies-
Judy Graham with the assistance of Frances Pulling & others with MS.

Multiple Sclerosis at your Fingertips-
answers over 200 real questions from people with MS and their families-
Ian Robinson Dr. Stuart Nellson & Dr. Frank Clifford Rose.

Reversing MS- 9 Effective Steps to Recover Your Health-
Celeste Pepe, D.C., N.D. and Lisa Hammond.

Multiple Sclerosis-A Home Video Self-Help Programme-
Susie Cornell.

Yoga for those with Multiple Sclerosis-
Step by Step- Includes a daily practise Session (of 52 mins)-
Yoga for Health Foundation

The Multiple Sclerosis Diet Book-
A low-fat diet for the Treatment of M.S.-
Roy Laver Swank, M.D., PH.D., & Barbara Dugan.

Multiple Sclerosis-A Personal Exploration-
Dr. Alexander Burnfield (who has had MS for 30 years).

Coping with Multiple Sclerosis-
A Practical Guide to Living with the Symptoms and
Understanding the Treatments-Cynthia Benz.

Coping with Candida- Shirley Trickett

The Candida Diet Book- Karen Brody

Food Intolerances- An MSRC Publication-
Karen E. Home.

Emotional Reactions to MS- An MSRC Publication-
Julia Segal

Dangerously Healthy-
An Inspiring & humorous Autobiography of life with MS-
Malcolm Birkenshaw

The Zone Diet- Barry Sears, PH.D,

Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill- Uro Erasmus.

A Range of MSRC BodyCare Leaflets
-available free from the MSRC-
Tel. 0800 783 0518

-My Dad's got MS-Gary Hetherington & Carolyn Young
-My Mum's got MS-Penny Sayer & Carolyn Young-
-Written for young children-available free from the Multiple Sclerosis Trust
Tel. 01462 476700
(postage donation appreciated).

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Fair Price Mobility Top Quality 3 & 4 Wheel Scooters Just £1 595 £100 donated to GYMS with every scooter sale! Call Steve on: 0114 262 0544 Webpage: www.fairprice-mobility-scooters.co.uk Email: fairprice.mobility@btinternet.com

 

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MS Therapy Centre (S.Yorks) Ltd,

New Address:
Bradbury House, 25 St. Mary's Drive,
Catcliffe, Rotherham, S60 5TN.
Tel. 01709 367784

www.mstherapy.fsnet.co.uk

clare@mstherapy.fsnet.co.uk

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-Book Review-

Dangerously Healthy by Malcolm Birkenshaw

This humorous and entertaining novel follows the ups and downs of Malcolm's life from the time of his diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis in 1974 and his adamant refusal to accept the decline that that doctors intimated would 'inevitably' follow.

Malcolm graduated at Hull University in 1958, with a BSc in Zoology with honours in Endrocrinology, despite many confusing MS symptoms. He went on to become a lecturer and comedy script writer, married and had two children.

We live though the turmoil of his diagnosis, and the devastating effects on his professional and personal life. But throughout Malcolm remains determined to beat MS and begins his search for answers.

He starts by taking sunflower oil, vitamins, sticking to a gluten-free low-fat diet, and trying Hyper-baric Oxygen. Gradually starts looking and feeling better. His next step was to try to tackle the muscles which had wasted through inactivity and decides to try bicycling, somewhat to his wife's trepidation! Gradually Malcolm finds his strength building. He takes up tennis, startsplaying cricket again and even climbs Mount Snowdon!

The following year he cycled to London to raise funds for A.R.M.S, a new group, Action and Research for MS, from which has spawned the British MS Therapy Centres.

Despite his wife's affair and being left to bring up his two children he manages to remain fit and active. We travel with Malcolm on the all too familiar MS Roller Coaster, while being reminded to stay positive and keep a real sense of humour at all times! Be prepared for some hearty 'Yorkshire' dialect, a good dose of down to earth Yorkshire wit and plenty of scandal. This book made me cry as well as laugh my socks off!

In 1997 Malcolm wrote 'Dangerously Healthy'. The idea was to raise money for MS Research. But the publishers let him down big time. Three years of stressful litigation and financial hard-ship has caused MS to flare up. But he is now on the way back up again, as stubbornly determined as ever. He has even a web-page where you can download free copies of his book, before he sends it out to major publishers.

Alternatively this autobiography is available in
paperback at less than half price for £5.50 (USA $10)
or through most bookshops for £9.99
(ISBN 1-902340-00-0).
Contact Malcolm on: 01977 681355
Email: m.birkenshaw@albatross-books.co.uk
Web-page: www.albatross-books.co.uk

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MS 24 Hour Telephone Counselling Service

The Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre (MSRC) are now running
the MS Counselling Service.

So if you are struggling and could do with some help and advise from
fellow MSers call them anytime on

Tel. 020 8422 2144

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Website of the Month

http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~abarnes/index.html

Check out this web-page packed full of MS info., chat, links, therapies and treatments!!!
Email address: abarnes@netcomuk.co.uk
Country: England

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MS Exercise Class

When? Fridays from 10.00-12.00am
Where? 57, Burton Street
Cost: £2 per person.
Contact: Matt James 0114 2332908

These classes are tailored to meet your individual needs so please come along!

The Burton Street Project is situated on Burton Street, which is off Langsett Road, on the town side of the Hillsborough Barracks. By tram get off at the Bamforth Street stop on Langsett Road.

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Quotes

If you always do what you always done,
you'll always get what you always got

Unknown

"Ships in the harbor are safe,
but that's not what ships are built for"

John Shedd

"Courage is not the absence of fear,
but the conquest of it."

Unknown

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That awful moment when cyberbuddies

finally meet...

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