DATE 07-02-08    

NEWS

CADET BAG PACKERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Back Row:   Joe Finch, Les Edwards, Nigel Grange

Middle:   Zena Betts, Sam Matthews, Sandra Wilcox

Front:   Leah Templeman, Stephanie Littler

Bag packing Chatteris army cadets have presented Huntingdon multiple sclerosis therapy centre with a whopping cheque for £400.

 For four days last December eight young cadets and five adult instructors raised the money by packing shopping for customers at the busy Chatteris Co-operative store.

 Three of the youngsters, Joe Finch  (16), Stephanie Littler (13) and  Samuel Matthews (14) together with their Company Sergeant Major Les Edwards; local detachment commander Staff Sergeant Nigel Grange and Sergeant Instructor Leah Templeman, visited the MS centre on 7^th February to personally hand over the cheque to delighted and grateful centre manager Zena Betts and trustee Sandra Wilcox. 

Les, who works full time at the centre as the high dosage oxygen therapy tank operator, also chairs

the fundraising committee in addition to being their fire and first aid officer. In his spare time, like his colleagues Nigel and Lea, he encourages young people aged 12 to 18 to take an active and useful part in society through the Army Cadet Force.

 After the presentation Les showed the cadets the therapy tank and the vibrogym equipment which is designed to compliment patient therapy. “There are over 15 different treatments available at the centre”, he said. “This service is vital for MS suffers in Huntingdon and surrounding area and we are so proud that the cadets could help in raising this money”.

 The Centre, which is open three days per week in Mayfield Road, Huntingdon, relies totally on fundraising and voluntary donations. The money raised by the cadets will go towards new and much needed hoist equipment which will enable patients to take part in treatments which otherwise they could not have experienced. The cadets have been invited back once the hoist has been purchased to see the equipment in action.