Armidale District MS (multiple sclerosis) Branch will once again be holding their annual Melbourne Cup Luncheon. Now in its 6th year the event will offer the chance to watch the race and experience some beautiful fashions courtesy of Fleece to Fashion.
Held on Tuesday the 7th of November from 12pm, the Armidale and District MS branch is extending a warm welcome to their lunch event. Held at the Armidale City Bowling Club, tickets are just $60 per person and include a two-course lunch, a fashion parade, and some race day fun.
Secretary of the MS Branch, Lyn Messing says, “The fashion parade has always been provided by the Fleece to Fashion garments due to the generosity of one of our members, Liz Foster who is involved in the organising of the Fleece to Fashion each year.”
“It is really lovely to be able to showcase the beautiful outfits that our up-and-coming designers have produced.”
The lunch is the main fundraiser for the group with all proceeds from the day going towards supporting locals living with multiple sclerosis.
Their other notable fundraising and awareness-building activity in the district is their annual Uralla street stall, which coincides with the last week of MS Awareness Month in May.
Ms Messing tells us that the Armidale and District branch has been operating in the area for 13 years.
“The aim of out branch is to assist and support anyone, MS sufferers, family, carers, and friends in the Armidale District,” she says, “We hold a support meeting every 2 months, and a branch meeting every 3 months, which is open to anyone who wishes to attend.”
Meetings are held at the Armidale Bowling Club and the group currently has around 30 official members hailing from Tamworth, Uralla, Glen Innes, Armidale and Tingha.
Ms Messing says that groups like this are vital for MS sufferers.
“At all our meetings we share a coffee or tea together and chat about how life is going for us all,” she says, “Due to the broad nature of symptoms and treatments of MS and the general limited knowledge of MS by the community, many MS sufferers, especially those newly diagnosed find it a relief to be able to talk with those who understand what they are going through.”
“Anyone within our area suffering with MS who needs help either financially, just having someone to talk to, or help with advice such as information on specialists, physios, and navigating NDIS. Any other way we can help, is supported whether they are a member or not.”
Tickets for the lunch are on sale now, for more information visit the Armidale District MS Branch’s Facebook page.
The group will also be holding a stall in the Central Shopping Centre from Monday 16 October to Sunday 22nd October, selling tickets to the Melbourne Cup Lunch, and raffle tickets which will be drawn at the luncheon event.
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