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Video spreads hope
Hope for people with MS: Belynda and James raise awareness for the condition
HUNDLETON student Belynda Galliard and Chester-based James Martin are on a mission. They are determined to show people that MS (Multiple Sclerosis) need not prove the end of the world. Life, they argue, can be full of potential for those given the chance.
And so , to further their cause Belynda , who will soon commence an MA in Film and Drama, and family friend James, a musician and a recent graduate in Media Studies, are currently producing a video to help everyone adopt a more positive approach to life with MS.
MS is the most common condition of the central nervous system affecting young adults. Over 100,000 people in the UK have MS which is about one in every 600. It is nearly three times more common in women than in men. Most people are diagnosed in their 20s and 30s, but it can be diagnosed in younger and older people.
But Belynda and James are not motivated by bald statistics .
“I have just started my own media company called Blue Dynasty Media , ” James explained . “I knew that I would have to begin by doing projects for free to show people what I can do . I initially thought I would do something like a music video. But then I thought, if I am going to be doing it for free , I might as well try and do something that makes a difference instead of simply helping a corporate client who really should be paying for what I do .
“And then I spoke to Liz, a family friend who suffers from MS. I didn’t realise she had MS at first because it was not very noticeable. I didn’t appreciate at the time that this disease affects people differently. This led to do some research which in turn prompted me to produce this film for the MS Society . ”
Belynda’s contact is much closer to home. She has a mother who suffers from MS. She explained: “The MS society recently did an employment survey and I found it interesting because I discovered that lots of people have had good careers. Liz’s husband was a journalist for example, and it made me think that with a little bit more understanding and support from his employer , he would have been able to continue working much longer than he did.
“When my mum discovered she had MS her employer basically said ‘Well that’s that. I’m giving your job to someone else’. He was convinced that she would soon be in a wheelchair but she simply needed some help with her fatigue levels. We want to educate and inspire people like that .”
Belynda and James have received no funding to date and are meeting all the expenses incurred from their own resources, which is why they are very keen to meet and interview anyone who willing to talk about their experiences and offer hope to those who are scared as to what a diagnosis might mean.
As Belynda explained: “We need people with inspirational stories to get involved as soon as possible and once the video is complete , we want to share it as widely as possibly. It won’t matter how good it is if no one sees it.”
James added: “We have discovered that MS society, like other organisations ,
needs to look at the way it shares its information. We have discovered ,
for example, that the society has hubs all around the country but they are often not aware of what other groups are doing. We are keen to create an environment in which they communicate with each other.
“There is a Facebook page , for example, but we need to encourage the different hubs to use it more . The content can be improved too. We are hoping this initiative will inspire them to use their resources in a more effective way .”
As for success, Belynda believes 100,000 views o n line is not an impossible target and she says they would be thrilled if it were shared further afield, such as in the US , for example.
“Given the way we can share information today, the sky’s the limit , ” she added. “And the tone is the key to our approach. Lots of campaign videos and appeals follow the same format. They are a little dated. We are determined to highlight the positives. It’s not a case of feel sorry for me but give me a chance!”
For more information contact Belynda: billi_rose@hotmail.co.uk or James : jjamesmartin@outlook.com.
A FAMILY has been left with nothing after a devastating house fire tore through their home in Tregunnor on Monday (Apr 7).
The blaze destroyed everything inside the house, leaving the homeowner, his children, and their family dog with only the clothes on their backs. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, but the emotional impact of losing their home and belongings has been described as “immeasurable.”
In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe page has been launched by the homeowner’s nephew, Kian Evans, in an effort to help the family rebuild their lives. The fundraiser, titled “Tregunnor House Fire,” has so far raised £40 from two donors, with hopes that more support will follow.
Mr Evans praised the emergency services for their swift response and thanked the local community for their messages of support and solidarity.
He wrote: “They have lost everything, from furniture to cherished memories. The goal is to help them get back on their feet after such a traumatic experience. Every little helps.”
The family now face the daunting task of starting over, but thanks to the generosity of those around them, they are not facing it alone.
To donate to the fundraiser, visit: gofundme.com/f/tregunnor-house-fire
Photo caption:
The fire which destroyed a family home in Tregunnor (Pic: Herald).
PEMBROKESHIRE JUNIORS IMPRESS IN CARMARTHEN FIXTURE
PEMBROKESHIRE JUNIOR CHESS CLUB travelled to Carmarthen on Monday (April 7) for a friendly fixture against their slightly older, but less experienced, counterparts. The match marked Carmarthen’s first official game.
Thanks to Peter Evans for organising the event, which saw 20 young players competing in a friendly but competitive atmosphere. A terrific evening of chess followed, with players mixing and matching across boards, ensuring each had at least two games—some even playing three or four.
The result of the first match was a tightly contested draw, finishing 5-5.
Standout players on both sides
For Pembrokeshire, standout performances came from:
- Suki, with 3 wins
- Huw, with 2 wins
- Joe, with 1 win and a draw
For Carmarthen, Matthew, William, and Eric stood out with impressive performances.
A return fixture in Pembrokeshire is already being planned before the season concludes. The club also hopes to arrange additional matches against Redhill Prep School and Castell Nedd Chess Club on May 29.
Strong performances in Redhill Festival
Ten Pembrokeshire players also took part in the Redhill Primary School Festival over the weekend, all performing with distinction. Special mention goes to Joe and Harry, who both won their first four rounds and competed in the final—Joe winning Gold, and Harry securing Silver.
Coach Martin Jones said he has been delighted with the progress made by all players this season, including the club’s younger and less experienced members, who are also showing great promise.
Martin also recently competed in the Bristol Chess Congress, where he took first place in his section out of 62 entrants.
“It’s great to see chess flourishing in Pembrokeshire,” he said.
Pembrokeshire Team (in board order)
- Barnaby Hinman – Ysgol Preseli
- Joe Othen – Home Schooled
- Harry Harling – Cosheston VC School
- Huw Holliday – Redhill Prep
- Sebastian Kummer – Neyland Community School
- Jude Taylor – St Mark’s VA School
- Henry Malone – Redhill High
- Suki-Rose Heulwen – Ysgol Bro Penfro
- Emily Thomas-Ward – Redhill Prep
- Carys Callan – Redhill Prep
Photos:
- Pembrokeshire Team
- Combined Pembrokeshire & Carmarthen Teams
FOUR original paintings of Sunderland flying boats have been donated to the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre by one of its leading supporters, Welsh aviation and military artist John Wynne Hopkins.
John, who lives in Llanelli, has also gifted several large prints and a collection of greetings cards, all depicting iconic images of the Sunderland aircraft.
“I have followed the excellent progress of the Heritage Trust over many years and I am so pleased that my art can support them,” said John. “The Sunderland is a favourite subject of mine and its long connections with Pembroke Dock have provided me with many topics to paint. I shall certainly continue this.”
The Heritage Centre already displays one of John’s earlier works — a dramatic World War I battlefield scene created in 2018 for its trench exhibit. The painting is featured in the original entrance of the Centre, housed in the former Royal Dockyard Chapel.
The Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre is open Monday to Friday, from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
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