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Family Support

Midsummer and we have had a busy time so far this year, with a hugely successful teenagers weekend in Somerset in April (a full report will be posted shortly and published in the next newsletter) when 12 young people had a fantastic time: the weekend was such a hit that nobody wanted to go home! We are planning to run a regular programme of such events around the country in the future for teenagers and we also hope to put together similar weekends for the younger children with their parents too.

Horse riding at The Camp was well attended as usual and the MaxAppeal annual camping weekend this time in Sherwood Forest has just taken place, kindly organised by Chris Anderson. All this as well as the numerous fundraising events.
Please keep looking at this site over the next few weeks for more news of the events currently being planned …..

If you are in the Midlands area or near, Sharon Hunt is organising a get together on Saturday 12th July at Blithfield Education Centre (www.blithfieldeducationcentre.co.uk) 10.30 a.m. - 3.30p.m., with a magician/clown to entertain and she hopes that the Centre teachers might also put together something. If you would like to go along (and I hear that it is a fantastic setting!) please contact Sharon on sharon@maxappeal.org.uk

There are tentative plans being made for a summer meeting in Yorkshire visiting Flamingo Land for the day. If you would be interested in joining in with this, please contact us and we will put you in touch with the families who are hoping to organise it.


The next ever popular horse riding at The Camp Riding Stables in Gloucestershire is coming up on Sunday 21st September 2008. This is a big year for The Camp as they have hosted riding sessions for the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) for 50 years - quite an achievement - and we feel very lucky to be one of the groups able to ride with them. See section below for further details and please do phone me, Susie, if you are interested in coming along.

The phone number for Susie has changed and is now 01285 712821 and not 713262 as previously. You may get an answerphone, but please do leave a message if so and I will get back to you.



If you would like to meet up with people in your area on an informal basis, or to organise a meeting yourself with the help of MaxAppeal (we can help with advice and some funding), please do get in touch either with Mike (mike@maxappeal.org.uk) or Susie. (susie@maxappeal.org.uk) There has been a bit of discussion in the chat room over the past few weeks with people wanting to do just that – again, please contact Mike if you would like to know more (thanks Mike!) or why not join the chat room yourself? More details again from Mike!

The Trustees are hard at work putting together plans for the next conference and AGM which is provisionally October this year. More news of this as we have it!

That takes us into the summer months (and a little beyond), but do keep checking this page for other events and more details of those already listed. Hope you will be able to get along to some of the events - happy days!


Please do contact Julie (julie@maxappeal.org.uk) or Mike (mike@maxappeal.org.uk) for any urgent issues if Susie is not available.


If you are a regular visitor to the site and want to know about these and other events and meetings coming up for 2008, please jump to the MEETINGS AND EVENTS DIARY below or go to the links to the left. If, though, you are new to our site - welcome! - and would like to know more about our activities as the family support side of MaxAppeal, please read on.....

The MaxAppeal VCFS Family Support Group hold meetings and age specific events throughout the year for families to get together and have fun whilst hopefully gaining strength, knowledge and support from meeting others and forming friendships with those in similar situations. Susie and Robert, Rowena, Jacky and Chris amongst others have run events that really are for all the family, so don't forget the brothers, sisters, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins if they would like to come along too! Don't forget that we also have an online Yahoo! group that can be used for members to chat with each other.

Spring Centre and other support group meetings and pony riding are all free of charge.

Please keep checking this page regularly for the latest news of what we are up to.



click below:
More information from:
events.asp


The next horse riding meeting will be Sunday 21st September at The Camp Riding Stables, near Stroud, Gloucestershire. We meet at 12.15 p.m. for 12.30 riding. If you like, please do bring a picnic along to chomp with the ponies afterwards! Tea, coffee and squash are provided.

If you would like to come along to any of the very popular horse riding sessions, please contact Susie (01285 712821 or susie@maxappeal.org.uk) to book a place. It's very important to book via a call/message to Susie as the Riding School need to know numbers, ages, weights, etc. prior to the day.

There is a minimum age limit of 3 years old, but no upper age - adults are very welcome too. You're never too old to start!

The ponies and horses are quiet and friendly and the Riding School are very experienced (50 years of hosting RDA sessions!) and able to accommodate all levels of ability and a wide range of disabilities.

Those affected by VCFS/DiGeorge/22q11.2 syndrome (over 3 years old) are able to ride free of charge on completion of a form by your G.P. which then entitles them to become a member of the Riding for Disabled Association (membership lasts for 4 years) and the Riding school kindly allow siblings to ride for a nominal fee to cover insurance. Voluntary donations to the RDA are also greatly appreciated on the day.

If you have not been before Susie will send you a form for the RDA membership and directions (01285 712821) or e mail as above.

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