Events 2023
September Sponsored walk 2023
During September we had our sponsored walk which started from Ibstock Town Cricket Club and we headed over to Sence Valley Forest Park on the outskirts of the village and back.
The weather was kind to us and there were ten of us walking altogether. 60 was raised in total.
August 2023
Fibromyalgia Friends Together held a charity coffee morning at the Charles Booth Centre in Thringstone.
All proceeds raised went towards Fibromyalgia Friends Together. 191 was made and all who attended had a really good time. Thank you to all who came and donated. Every bit of money makes a difference!
At our August regular meet-up we had an Assistance Dog Demonstration by Canine Partners. A good time was had by all. What wonderful dogs.
Members also attended the Ibstock Country Fair and Shepshed Lions Carnival to raise funds and awareness with their stall. They raised 94.50 in total. We are so grateful.
July 2023 Manor Day
Many members of the group enjoyed a day at Shuttleworth Manor. A lovely hot drink on arrival in the morning with time for a good catch up with friends old and new. This was followed by a lovely lunch and dessert. Later on there was by tea/coffee and cake in the afternoon. A good day out for everyone who came!
Christmas Lunch 2019
On Wednesday 11th December 2019, 19 of us attended our second annual Christmas Lunch at the Hermitage Park Hotel in Coalville.
The group consisted of some group members with their friends and family for a lovely four-course lunch and time for a chat with drinks after in the lounge.
Canine Partners 2019
On Saturday 16th November 2019 10 members from the group attended an Information Session at the Canine Partners Assistance Dog Training Centre at Osgathorpe Leicestershire. This is a charity-run centre that trains dogs to help and assist people so these people can be more independent and share love and companionship with these dogs.
We were met at the centre by a friendly group of people with these dogs and invited to a hot drink and biscuits. Then one of the volunteers gave a presentation about how the centre works and how they train the dogs. A short film gave us an insight into how much work goes into training these dogs to the necessary level.
Then we met a young lady who has one of the canine partner dogs. She explained how much the dog had changed her life. What an inspiration she was – so proud of her companion and so happy with the love and friendship they both shared.
Well done to everyone that has supported the Canine Partners Charity.
Manor Day Visit 2019
On Tuesday 1st October 2019 we had a day out with our friends from the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation Support; the Thursday Group. A relaxing chat and a fantastic roast lunch with jam sponge and custard dessert. Not forgetting the hot drink and biscuits on arrival and again hot drinks and cake in the afternoon.
All provided by the wonderful volunteers at the Ulverscroft Manor. Well done from all of us you all make perfect hosts.
Shepshed Lions Club Carnival 2019
On Bank Holiday Monday 26th August 2019 we held our second outdoor awareness event of 2019 – a Carnival at Glenmore Park in Shepshed, organised by the Shepshed Lions Club.
It was a beautiful setting; a park in the center of Shepshed. The weather was fantastic – sunny all day long. Sun cream and sun hats with plenty of cold drinks rather than storm straps for the gazebo. The weather certainly brought the public out in their hundreds.
Again with the numbers attending the carnival, our stall was well visited. We were able to pass information on to a lot of people.
Thanks to everyone who helped out on the day.
Ibstock Country Fair 2019
On Sunday 18th August 2019, we held our first outdoor Fibromyalgia Awareness display at the Ibstock Country Fair.
It turned out to be challenging weather. During the event, it was windy which caused problems with the display board. We got a little wet the day before putting the gazebo up but nothing to complain about.
The attendance at the Country Fair was very good. Plus, we had a good response from people asking questions about Fibromyalgia, even fellow sufferers. We were able to give out our leaflets and information about our website, so they could go away and look us up in their own time. This is the purpose of these awareness displays.
Thanks to everyone who helped us over the weekend and a special thank you to Stuart Farmer the Country Fair organiser and his team of helpers for a well-organised event.
Canal Trip 2019
On Saturday 6th July 2019 we had another great day out with friends. This time a relaxing day out on the canal with the Fibromyalgia group from Loughborough. We travelled to the Plough Inn at Normanton on Soar where we had lunch and then headed back to the boat yard at Loughborough. This was with the Peter Le Marchant Trust. They provide day outings on the waterways for people of all ages with any kind of disability or serious illness. Our volunteer skipper for the day Chris and his crew made us very welcome. They were very professional, a credit to the Trust. Everyone enjoyed the day out and found it very relaxing but also entertaining. Well done the Peter Le Marchant Trust.
Social Gathering at Ulverscroft Manor 2019
Our second social gathering of the year and what an enjoyable day it was. On Tuesday 2nd April 2019. Our group joined up with the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation Support Thursday Group for a social gathering at the Ulverscroft Manor. There were twenty-four of us.
The day started off with a hot drink and biscuits. Later came a two-course lunch which included roast beef, vegetables and mashed potatoes, followed by lemon sponge and custard. Then the afternoon finished off with another hot drink and cake. In between all the lovely food and drinks, there was plenty of time to socialise. Some even had a ride on the Golf Buggy around the grounds of Ulverscroft Manor and over to Ulverscroft Grange.
Thank you to all the staff and volunteers of the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation for making us so welcome and our day such a success.
Sponsored Walk March 2019
What a fantastic day we all had on our sponsored walk event we held on Sunday 24th March. 24 walkers took part, plus a few dogs, in a 4-mile walk from Ibstock Town Cricket Club through the local housing estates onto Sence Valley Forest Park, round the park, and then back to the cricket club. Where there were well-earned drinks and a buffet for all.
The whole event attracted 30 to 40 people who all joined in an enjoyable social afternoon. Fibromyalgia Friends Together would like to thank everyone for their help in making this such a successful event; especially all the people who donated their hard-earned money to such a worthwhile cause. The total collected in donations was £924.00. Plus, a special thanks to Ibstock Town Cricket Club for letting us hold the event at their clubhouse and making us feel so welcome. Well done everyone for your great effort and support.
Christmas Lunch 2018: First ever Fibromyalgia Friends Together Christmas Lunch
In December 2018 we held our first Fibromyalgia Friends Together Christmas Lunch at the Charnwood Arms Coalville Leicestershire. This was well attended by group members and their family and friends. We also intend to make this an annual event.
First Ever Awareness Display in 2018
In August 2018 we held our first ever Fibromyalgia Awareness Display at Morrisons Supermarket in Coalville Leicestershire. There was a lot of interest shown from the shoppers in the display, some taking our informative books and leaflets from the stand with them to introduce themselves to Fibromyalgia.
In December 2018 we changed things slightly and held an awareness display at a Christmas Craft Fair at the Gorse Covert Community Centre in Loughborough, Leicestershire. This was a small but well-organised event and we were helped by one of our member’s daughters and her group of young friends to help spread the word and awareness of Fibromyalgia. The teenagers also tried face painting which was well received, especially by the young children who came to see Santa Claus in the centre’s grotto.
Page reviewed September 2023