Deutsche Bank Offshore supports local charity

Deutsche Bank Offshore has recently provided funding to enable the Caesarean Muscular Dystrophy Welfare Society Incorporated to purchase a "Cough Assist".

This machine is a relatively recent invention that came on to the market last year. It assists patients in clearing retained secretions by gradually applying pressure via a face mask and simulating a cough.

The Bank has been a supporter of this Society for a number of years through its monthly staff dress down day and in 2002 was able to make an additional charitable donation to coincide with its 30th anniversary celebrations to assist with this particular purchase.

Currently benefitting from the "Cough Assist" is 18 year old Stevie Munns, an IT student at Highlands College. However because of the portable nature of the machine (about the size of an automatic bread maker) and the use of individual mouthpieces, it means that more than one sufferer can take advantage of the equipment at any one time

Dawn Munns, Stevie's mother and Deputy Chairman of the Society, advised that the machine has proved invaluable just recently as Stevie is recovering from a winter cold.

The Caesarean Muscular Dystrophy Welfare Society Incorporated was formed approximately 25 years ago. It was originally part of the Muscular Dystrophy Group of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with fundraising results being upstreamed for research purposes

With no treatment or cure for the disease there is obviously a need for research however the Welfare Society formed to provide equipment/care to enhance life of local sufferers. This can take the form of provision of electric beds, home care assistance for adults wishing to retain their independence by staying in their own homes, respite care at Oakwell, sheltered housing and, a major expense, vehicles to accommodate wheelchairs.

Muscular Dystrophy is the name for a group of conditions which all have in common a progressive wasting and weakening of the muscles. Many thousands of adults and children are affected in the UK and symptoms can appear at birth or they may start in later life. It is usually inherited via a defective gene, sometimes it can appear in a family with no previous history of the disease.

One of the most common forms of Muscular Dystrophy is Duchene, which mainly affects boys. Walking becomes progressively more difficult as all muscles weaken and the boy will generally be in a wheelchair by his early teens with a life expectancy to his early twenties.

The local fundraising committee is made up of nine volunteers, including family members of sufferers, an occupational therapist, a representative of Oakwell Respite home and other interested parties. The main thrust of the fundraising is a raffle launched in September as a forerunner to their Christmas Bazaar held at St Bernadette's and other activities have included car boot sales and a silent auction. In a previous year a joint flag day has been held in conjunction with the Jersey Asthma Society however, as Dawn Munns points out, this requires a large number of helpers. All money raised stays in the Island to help local sufferers.