Charity needs £3,000 a day to stay open

That’s around £3,000 a day, every day, to help people suffering from neuromuscular conditions and other disabling illnesses.

The building on Woodfood Lane in Winsford has been a centre of excellence for the past 32 years and is the only one of its kind in the UK and Europe.

Fundraising is invaluable to the continued running of the centre with donations and fundraising events providing the majority of the charity’s income.

It costs around £3,000 a day to run the NeuroMuscular Centre in Winsford

The NeuroMuscular Centre is our chosen charity for Winsford in this year’s Cash for Charities campaign.

The Gannett Foundation, which is our parent company’s charitable arm, is giving away £128,000 to support local charities across the country and we have a £16,000 share to distribute across the north west.

Over the next two weeks, you are invited to collect tokens printed inside the paper which can then be sent to collection points across the area or posted in to us.

Each token collected will be used to allocate the cash to the nominated charity – so if The NeuroMuscular Centre collects 50 per cent of all tokens collected it will receive 50 per cent of the £16,000.

Any money that the Winsford charity receives will go towards replacing and upgrading the physiotherapy equipment in the accessible gym as most of the equipment is adapted and custom built.

The centre on Woodfood Lane in Winsford has been a centre of excellence for the past 32 years and is the only one of its kind in the UK and Europe

The charity received emergency funding in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and it receives funding from legacies and wills, community donations and events.

There are three annual fundraising events – the NMC quiz which happens in March, the Live in the Park concert at Arley Hall and Gardens in July and the Spirit of Christmas carol concert at Chester Cathedral in November.

Ben Dale, head of fundraising, said: “Our Spirit of Christmas Carol Concert is our longest running event and has been running for more than 27 years.

“It’s hosted by our president, Matthew Kelly, along with stars of the stage and screen.

“After three years away, we’re very excited to return to the splendour of Chester Cathedral on Saturday, November 26, and will be joined by Jim Carter, Sophie Thompson and Karl Davies as well as Elizabeth Estensen, Joseph Millson and Carolyn Pickles – with more names to be announced.

“The event in 2019 raised an incredible £38,000.”

The charity regularly holds ladies’ lunches, fun runs and band nights as well as festive balls, wine tasting and firework shows.

Fundraisers in action at the annual Christmas events

Ben added: “We also receive income through regular donations and our lottery scheme, as well as funding from local rotary groups, supermarkets and schools with individuals taking on their own fundraising events too.

“We’re a small fundraising team but we’re lucky to be supported by so many volunteers who give up their time to help in the office and at these charity events.”

To get this week’s token turn to page 8.

The deadline for votes is Sunday, November 20.

You can post your tokens or drop them off at collection points which are located at the following places:

• NMC Design & Print, Woodford, Winsford, CW7 4EH

• Morrison’s, Nat Lane, Winsford, CW7 3GZ

• Asda, The Drumber, Winsford, CW7 1BD

• Morrison’s, Newton Bank, Middlewich, CW10 9EX

• SKN Traders, Weaver Street, Winsford, CW7 4AJ

• Spar/Over Square Shell Garage, Delamere Street, Winsford, CW7 2LU

• Tesco Express, 1 Wheelock Street, Middlewich, CW10 9AG

• Tesco Express, 76 Warmington Lane, Middlewich, CW10 0DJ

• Middlewich News and Post Office, 49 Wheelock Street, Middlewich, CW10 9AB