Paul John, a long‑standing member, supporter, and the organiser behind the well‑known PJ Track Days, is taking on a new kind of challenge this summer: a charity skydive to raise funds for our centre. And he won’t be doing it alone. His close friend Shaun will be jumping with him, thanks to a very simple ultimatum from Paul: deliver the best man speech or jump out of a plane. Shaun chose the plane. Skydiving has been on Paul’s list for years. Living with MS, he’s a committed member of our centre and wanted to take on something that pushed him while giving back at the same time. He’s even been working hard to lose weight specifically so he could take part, a clear sign of how determined he is to make this happen. In August, Paul and Shaun will head up into the clouds and take the leap. Their aim is to raise funds that help us continue providing support and services to those who need it. Support Their Fundraising If you’d like to back their efforts, you can donate directly to their pages: Donate to Paul https://www.justgiving.com/page/paul-john-1 Donate to Shaun https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/shaunblackburnlza3alu37p Thank you Paul and Shaun!

We are delighted to offer a new P3 session on Tuesdays at 5.30 pm. This is part of our new extended hours programme. This new session will be available from Tuesday 28 July. Isobaric Oxygen will also be available at the same time. For further information about the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy that we offer, please visit www.thebrightwell.org.uk/oxygen-therapy. To book an HBOT session, please call 01454 201686 or email hello@thebrightwell.org.uk We look forward to seeing you soon!

After months of exceptional hard work, gardening duo Michael Leech and Gavin Moth opened the Woodstock Homes Multiple Sclerosis Garden in the Pocket Planting section yesterday, and what an opening it was. The garden represents hundreds of hours of design, planning and procurement, and a wonderful collaboration between Michael, Gavin, Woodstock Homes and The Brightwell. It marks the first time an RHS event has been held at Badminton, and the first time Michael and Gavin have worked together on an RHS garden. Yesterday, Wednesday 8 July, was the opening of the RHS Badminton Show. Not only did the garden receive wide praise and admiration, but it was also awarded a Silver medal, a truly incredible achievement. The garden also featured in a BBC Points West news item about the event, which included an interview with Gavin, Michael and our own CEO Doro. People's Choice Award Help us raise awareness of The Brightwell by voting for the Woodstock Homes Multiple Sclerosis Pocket Garden in the RHS People's Choice Award, and ask your family and friends to vote too! Vote here Voting closes at 12 pm on Friday 10 July, so don't delay, get your vote in today! The Badminton show runs until Sunday 12 July, after which the garden will be dismantled and relocated to The Brightwell on Monday 13 July. Everyone involved is incredibly grateful to have been part of this amazing project. #GardeningwithMS #RHSBadminton #WoodstockHomes #TheBrightwell #livingwithMS

The image shows Allan Seeley and his carer, Marie Henderson We are delighted that, after months of restricted access, our Therapy Garden is now fully open! It all started as a simple project back in March 2025: laying and extending the path, which wheelchair users were finding difficult to use. To cut a very long story short, despite numerous attempts and a lot of different tips and options, a “hoggin” surface simply could not be made to suit our needs. After getting several quotes, we found a highly recommended specialist who looked favourably on our project. One condition of his quote was that the existing material would need to be relocated onsite. So when a group of corporate volunteers came in from Lloyds Banking Group at the end of April, part of the plan was to clear an unused but overgrown area at the side of the building to make space for the unwanted path material. Click here to read that blog: Lloyds Banking Group volunteers do an amazing job Last week, on Wednesday 16 June, another group of volunteers came in from Aviva to help prepare the ground for the arrival of our repurposed RHS garden. As it happened, the path contractors also arrived a day earlier than expected. At first, we were a little worried about having both jobs going on at once, but thank goodness they were there. The volunteers were not making as much progress as they had hoped, as they kept hitting huge concrete blocks buried in the ground. Thankfully, the contractors were able to use their heavy lifting equipment to move these slabs, allowing the volunteers to then cut the beds out to the prearranged shape and location. The contractors finished the path off on Thursday and, much to our surprise, flattened off all the discarded hogging in the cleared space too, so we now have a smart new cleared and levelled storage area as a bonus! We would like to say a massive thank you to our three generous sponsors, who made all of this possible: St James's Place, Councillor John Bradbury, and Woodstock Homes and to P Phillips and Sons Ltd for supporting our volunteers and going the extra mile in improving the area to the back of the building. This has been a truly collaborative project, with so many people involved, staff, volunteers, supporters and suppliers all playing their part! We would now like to invite everyone to come and enjoy this wonderful space. Not long now until the RHS pocket garden is relocated here too! We are very fortunate indeed.

We have some wonderful news to share: The Brightwell has been named as a finalist in the BBC Radio Bristol Make a Difference Awards, in the Community Group Award category. We are one of just four finalists, and we are absolutely thrilled. What makes this nomination extra special is the story behind it. We didn’t know a thing about it until BBC Radio Bristol presenter Adam Crowther called me last week to tell me we had made it through to the final four. The first stage of the process, shortlisting, had taken place entirely without our knowledge, judged by a panel who clearly understood what we do and the difference the Centre makes. It was a genuinely lovely surprise. It turned out that the person who nominated us was our own Lara Carnell, our wonderful fundraiser here at The Brightwell. Lara’s connection to us goes back many years: as a child, she came to our summer fairs in Nailsea because her aunt, Nicola George, was a longstanding member, trustee, and supporter of the Centre. Nicola’s condition has progressed over the years, and reduced mobility and transport access mean she is no longer able to come to the Centre for therapy, something that reminds us daily of why extending our reach and making therapies more accessible to those with mobility and transport challenges must remain at the heart of our plans. But Nicola is very much still part of our community, and it was lovely to catch up with her by phone last week. That Lara grew up knowing how much the Centre meant to her aunt, and later chose to work here and nominate us for this award, is a really moving testament to the lasting impact The Brightwell has on the lives of those connected to it. BBC Radio Bristol This weekend, I had the honour of visiting BBC Radio Bristol for a recorded interview and filming with Adam Crowther. I was joined by our member Attia Trott and her husband Andrew, who were our biggest supporters on the day. Attia was, quite simply, outstanding! From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel genuinely welcome. A huge thank you to Adam, Trish and Dean, who looked after us and made us feel at ease, keeping us cool and hydrated despite the heat, which made for a relaxed and enjoyable interview. Attia shared her own story: her experience of being diagnosed and living with MS, and what The Brightwell has meant to her. She spoke candidly about how coming to the Centre has improved her overall wellbeing and helped her to better manage her symptoms, and about the strength she draws not just from the therapies themselves but from the sense of community and belonging that The Brightwell provides. Hearing her speak, I felt incredibly proud of what this place is and what it means to the people who come here. What We Do and Why It Matters During the interview, I was asked to share a particular example of The Brightwell making a significant difference to someone’s life. My mind went immediately to our member, Mel Likeman and her story. Mel still comes to the Centre weekly. But at a pivotal moment in her life, the support she received here was truly life-changing. When her now-husband proposed, there was one thing above everything else that Mel wanted: to walk down the aisle and speak her vows clearly and with purpose. An MS relapse had affected her mobility and caused her speech to become slurred; fatigue meant she couldn’t walk for any meaningful distance. The odds seemed stacked against her. Through her own extraordinary determination, combined with regular oxygen therapy sessions and tailored physiotherapy with our neurotherapy team, Mel was able, on her wedding day, to walk down the aisle supported by her father, and to say her vows clearly and confidently. It was, by every account, a deeply emotional and joyful day, for all the right reasons. Stories like Mel’s are at the heart of why The Brightwell exists. For over 40 years, we have been helping people living with neurological conditions to take back some control, offering specialist therapies in a warm, friendly, fully accessible and non-clinical environment. Simply. We are a community, one built on kindness, determination, and the belief that everyone deserves access to the support they need to live well. What Happens Next The final decision on which of the four finalists wins rests with a mystery celebrity judge. A short film has been made as part of the process, and we’ll share more about that when we can. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Playhouse Theatre in Weston-super-Mare in September. In the meantime, all we can do is keep doing what we do, and hope that whoever makes the final decision can truly see how vital The Brightwell is, and what a difference it makes to so many Fingers firmly crossed!! To find out more about The Brightwell, our therapies, and how to become a member or supporter, visit www.thebrightwell.org.uk or call us on 01454 201686.

The AVIVA team with our Brightwell CEO, Doro. We were delighted to welcome a new group of Corporate Volunteers on 17 June from AVIVA, based in Stoke Gifford. This was the first time the team of volunteers had come to help at The Brightwell, and we were very impressed with everything they achieved! They were also assisted on the day by our own brilliant Brightwell Garden volunteers, Jen and Dave, who also did a tremendous job. The team did fantastic work digging out new plant borders for our forthcoming RHS planting as well as digging out space for a new ornamental tree. They worked like absolute stars, and we couldn’t be more pleased! It was hard work – the ground was tough and extremely rocky, and on such a humid and drizzly day it was a real challenge. The team were also very grateful for some extra help from the lovely chaps from P Phillips & Sons, who lent a hand with their diggers whilst also working on the Brightwell garden path! The team were really interested to learn about everything we do here at The Brightwell, and they also enjoyed a light lunch from the Brightwell Café. It was a joy to welcome this group to the Centre, and we are truly very grateful for all their efforts. We look forward to having them back soon! Before the dig After the work

I am a Volunteer Oxygen Operator here at The Brightwell. Here is my story about how this volunteering role has had a massive impact on my life. I was born in Hartcliffe, Bristol, in April 1962 at home and grew up in a loving and nurturing home with my two sisters, Mum and Dad. My childhood memories were so wonderful, and it was a very happy time. Back then, Hartcliffe was the largest housing estate in Europe. Despite its reputation in later years, my family have always enjoyed living there and has not experienced any problems. I attended Whitehouse Primary School, then Hartcliffe Comprehensive, which at the time was the biggest school in the UK, with 2,500 pupils on roll. Although I didn’t enjoy going to school, I had a great group of friends and successfully left with six O Levels to my name. In 1979, at age 17, I applied for my first job with Avon County Council as a Payroll Clerk, a job I really loved and stayed there for years. I met my husband and soulmate, Dave, in March 1979, and we were married in September of the same year. We knew each other before working together, but it was frowned upon to be in a relationship with someone at the same workplace, so we were discouraged from drawing attention to ourselves. It was a very different time back then! Our first house together was in Longwell Green, then Kingswood, which I still live in today. At age 40, Dave was diagnosed with a rare heart condition called Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM). He worked from home, still for Avon CC, after his diagnosis. Working from home is not at all unusual these days, but then it was very rare and we had a huge computer installed at home for Dave! I stopped working at the same time to look after him, and then he sadly passed 5 years later. He was the loveliest and funniest man, and we spent 16 wonderful years together. I still miss him dearly. Following Dave’s death, the next few years were very difficult for me, and I struggled with grief a lot, but this hard time has made me the person I am today and made me much stronger as a result. Much of my life can be described as “light and shade” and even some dark times. Being with my family and Dave brought immense joy to my life, but I have also dealt with some very tough challenges. I was with my second partner for 11 years; unfortunately, this was not a happy part of my life, as elements of the relationship were quite toxic and unhealthy for my well-being. However, he lived with MS, and that’s how I became aware of The Brightwell. Again, as often happens in life, something positive came from a negative situation. I started volunteering there just before COVID in 2019. The staff and members are what make The Brightwell so special, and I have made so many close and special friends. I enjoy seeing members each Thursday in the Oxygen Suite; they know it is a safe space where they feel listened to and valued as an individual. I have benefitted tremendously from volunteering; I enjoy it so much and am committed to the twice-yearly training. I have often felt like I don’t have a specific talent or skill, but I found something that I am genuinely good at through volunteering at The Brightwell. I feel that I can offer genuine empathy and understanding to people because of what I have gone through. I can offer care and support to members, which is so important. In my personal time, I love to dress up in fancy dress, and at Christmas, every Thursday, members expect me to wear ‘festive headwear’. The animals in my life have always meant so much to me. I have had many pets over the years, and Dolly, my Lurcher, who I have had for 8 years now, is crazy and very funny, and I don’t know what I would do without her. In my leisure time, I love walking Dolly and being in nature. I’m a keen crafter too. Love to be with my friends socialising, and even happier if fancy dress is involved! If you see me around the Centre, please come and say hello, and I hope you have enjoyed finding out more about me. Maybe volunteering might be for you, too! Love and Best Wishes Jane.

Michael Leech and Gavin Moth Many of us will be familiar with the spectacular displays at RHS Chelsea, but from July 2026 there is a wonderful new venue to add to the diary. The RHS Badminton Flower Show, set within the magnificent Badminton Estate in South Gloucestershire, is one of the most exciting developments in the horticultural calendar for years, and, as it turns out, one with a very personal connection to the MS community. (www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-badminton-flower-show) How it all began Behind this garden are two passionate gardeners: Michael Leech and Gavin Moth. Michael explains how the idea took root: "Having built a 'long border' entry at RHS Tatton Park in 2024, I caught the bug. The following year, I looked at the 'pocket planting' category at RHS Hampton Court, whose theme was 'resilience'. Rather than the obvious route of climate-resilient planting, my mind moved in a different direction, towards the quiet, daily resilience of people living with their own personal challenges. I'd seen Gavin's social media presence, 'The MS Gardener', and noticed he lived nearby. The thought struck me: why not use garden design to tell the story of an MS diagnosis? I got in touch, we met on a bench by the river, me with a scribbled design and a half-formed idea, and somehow I managed to sell him on it." Gavin's story: from intensive care to the RHS For Gavin, this garden is far more than a horticultural project. It is, in many ways, the culmination of a life reshaped by MS. In January 2012, he was diagnosed whilst in intensive care following a catastrophic first relapse. Months earlier, a numb arm had prompted a visit to a specialist but raised no serious alarm. Then, after a game of football, everything changed. "I started to feel very unwell, I thought it was flu. But my partner, who had only just agreed to be my fiancée, knew better. After speaking with our GP, I was sent straight to the hospital. The next day, I was convinced I was having a heart attack." The relapse left Gavin completely immobile, his hearing, speech, and vision all seriously affected. He spent several months in the hospital learning to work with a body that had fundamentally changed. That same year, he came home and married. The road back was long. After nearly two years struggling with employment, he became self-employed, and it was then that he found something unexpected: "I realised that gardening really helped me, both physically and mentally. It gave me something back during those very stressful times." That quiet revelation proved to be the seed of something far bigger. Almost twelve years later, Gavin returned to college to train as an RHS Horticulturalist, retrained as a professional gardener, and built a growing social media presence as 'The MS Gardener', documenting life at the intersection of horticulture and MS. It was through that platform that Michael found him. When the two confirmed they lived in neighbouring towns, and the show garden idea took shape, fundraising began, with modest success. The real turning point came when Michael made contact with The Brightwell. With The Brightwell's agreement to rehome the garden in their own therapy grounds after the show, fulfilling the RHS ethos of sustainability and repurposing, the application for Badminton was made. "It has been a long process: tweaks to the design, real-life commitments, the inevitable slowdowns. But we are absolutely delighted to be confirmed. It still feels a little surreal, if I'm honest. But very, very exciting." The perfect partnership The Brightwell identified the ideal sponsor in Woodstock Homes, a steadfast supporter of the charity since 2022. For Managing Director James Hutchinson, the connection is personal; his mother, Karen, lived with MS and visited The Brightwell for therapy. Woodstock Homes' commitment to sustainability made them a natural fit, and a well-matched three-way partnership was formed. The RHS was impressed. After several rounds of refinements, the application received the green light. James Hutchinson reflects: "Sustainability is woven into the fabric of everything we build. Partnering with The Brightwell to support those living with MS feels like a natural extension of that. I'm hoping to bring my Dad to The Brightwell on 29 July, which would have been my Mum's birthday. To see this garden in its permanent new home on that day will be very special indeed." Here is the approved garden design Now the real work begins Michael and Gavin are deep in preparations, with the show opening on Wednesday, 8 July and running through to Sunday, 12 July. The garden will then be transported to The Brightwell on Monday, 13 July, where volunteers from Lloyds Banking Group and AVIVA will have already prepared the ground to receive it. Doro Pasantes, Chief Executive of The Brightwell, captures the feeling perfectly: "To be involved in an event as prestigious as an RHS show, working with such visionary gardeners, is remarkable. But it's the collaboration between The Brightwell, Woodstock Homes, our corporate volunteers, and our wonderful regular garden volunteers that is truly overwhelming. This garden will bring joy to our members and community for years to come. I cannot wait." We will be sharing updates about the preparation, the resurfaced path, which is a separate project, and the garden relocation. #TheMSGardener #MSAwareness #RHSSHOW #PocketPlanting #TheBrightwell #WoodstockHomes #CommunityProject #CharityPartnership

Image source www.englandfootball.com If you thought preparing for a World Cup just meant standard drill cones, a few tactical whiteboard sessions, and an intensive training camp, think again. As Thomas Tuchel’s England squad readies itself for the gruelling North American summer, sports science has been dialled up to an entirely new level. Among the heated training tents, wearable health bands, and biometric "digital pills" that players swallow to track their internal temperatures, there is one piece of tech causing a major buzz in the Three Lions camp: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Several members of the squad have gone as far as installing personal hyperbaric oxygen chambers in their own homes. But why are England’s elite footballers choosing to spend their precious downtime sealed inside pressurised, oxygen-rich pods? The Science: What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy? In standard atmospheric conditions, we breathe in air that is about 21% oxygen. Under normal circumstances, our red blood cells carry this oxygen throughout the body. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy flips the script. Inside a specialised chamber, the atmospheric pressure is increased (sometimes up to three times normal air pressure), and the user breathes in pure, 100% oxygen. The Brightwell offers a range of dive depths up to 2ATA. How it works: Under high pressure, oxygen doesn’t just bind to your red blood cells—it actually dissolves directly into your blood plasma, central nervous system fluids, and tissues. This floods the body with up to 10 to 15 times its normal oxygen supply. Why the Three Lions are Chasing the "O2 Edge" The upcoming World Cup across the USA, Canada, and Mexico is shaping up to be a logistical and physical nightmare. With matches stretching across four time zones, gruelling late-night travel, and intense humidity in places like Miami, plus the staggering altitude of Mexico City, recovery is the real name of the game. Here is exactly why the FA and the players are banking on oxygen therapy to give them a tournament advantage: Accelerated Muscle Recovery Playing 90 (or 120) minutes of high-intensity football causes microtears in muscle fibres, leading to inflammation and soreness. By flooding damaged tissues with high-pressure oxygen, HBOT accelerates cellular repair, clears lactic acid, and dramatically shortens the time a player needs to bounce back between matches. Defeating Tournament Fatigue In a tournament where games come thick and fast, players often hit a wall. Oxygen therapy helps supercharge the mitochondria, the "powerhouses" of our cells, giving players a natural energy boost and reducing that heavy-legged feeling that can plague teams by the knockout stages. "Comfortable Being Uncomfortable" at Altitude With a potential knockout game looming in the high altitude of Mexico City, breathing becomes a massive obstacle. While England is using hypoxic (low-oxygen) tents to simulate the thin air during active training, hyperbaric oxygen after training ensures that the body recovers perfectly from those suffocating sessions, keeping the cardiovascular system operating at peak performance. Mental Clarity and Focus Physical tiredness leads to mental mistakes, a misplaced pass, a lost runner on a corner, a poorly timed tackle. Higher oxygen levels in the brain are proven to improve sleep quality, reaction times, and cognitive focus. When a match goes to a tense penalty shootout, a hyper-oxygenated brain could be the difference between a clinical finish and a heartbreak. A Growing Trend in the Game England’s men aren’t the first to discover the magic of the pod. Lionesses star Alessia Russo has long credited hyperbaric chambers as part of her "one per cent" marginal gains toolkit to navigate major tournaments. Global superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah have also sworn by the technology for years to prolong their peak physical performance. With Thomas Tuchel demanding absolute physical perfection from his squad to end 60 years of hurt, the Three Lions are leaving absolutely no stone unturned. From the food they eat to the very air they breathe, everything is being optimised. HBOT for Sports Injuries at The Brightwell To find out more about HBOT for Sports Injuries at The Brightwell, please visit www.thebrightwell.org.uk/oxygen-for-sports-injuries You can also call us on 01454 201686 or email hello@thebrightwell.org.uk

Not content with running one marathon in honour of his late Uncle Nick, Ciaran Hemming returned for a second! This time, swapping the stunning scenery of Loch Ness for the city streets of Edinburgh. He also swapped the autumn chill for one of the hottest days of the year. Temperatures across parts of the UK climbed to 34 degrees, and although cooler in Scotland, the temperature was certainly a challenge. Around 9,900 competitors took on the full 26.2-mile course, heading out of the city through the streets of Musselburgh, Prestonpans, and Cockenzie and Port Seton, before turning at Gosford Estate and making their way back to the finish line at Pinkie Playing Fields. The heat was relentless. At points, local residents set up hosepipes to drench passing runners in very welcome cold water. The scale of the challenge was reflected in the fact that the ambulance service responded to 59 people suffering from heat-related issues during the event, with 16 taken to the hospital. Notably, it wasn't only runners who were affected; spectators, too, fell victim to the conditions. Those who crossed the finish line should feel immensely proud, especially given that their training was likely through the winter/spring! Though he wasn't formally fundraising, Ciaran has raised a brilliant £300. We take our hats off to him, once for his determination to run again in Nick's memory, and again for doing so in such gruelling heat. Everyone who knew Nick is certain he would have been incredibly proud. And so are we. Thank you, Ciaran!

Last week, we gathered together as a Brightwell family to celebrate the life of our wonderful Keith Gilbey, and what a celebration it was. Keith had been part of our community since 2013, more than a decade of selfless dedication that touched every single person who walked through our doors. He was our volunteer driver and, most importantly, a dear friend to us all. A Day Full of Warmth and Laughter The room was full of people who admired and respected him, and the memories that were shared painted such a vivid picture of the Keith we all knew and adored. We were absolutely delighted to welcome Keith’s brother Peter and his nephew Phil, who travelled to be with us on the day. It was such a pleasure to finally meet them, and we have to say, Peter reminded us so much of Keith; that same warmth and gentleness, that same Yorkshire twang and the exact same mannerisms. It felt like a gift, having him here with us. We are so glad they came, and we hope they left knowing just how cherished Keith was here, and how much he is missed. We are very pleased to say that we have made new friends to the Centre, and we hope they will both come and see us again. In Their Own Words We asked members, staff, and volunteers to share their favourite memories of Keith, and what came back was just beautiful. Here is just a small selection of what people shared: Karlis made these wonderful AI images of Keith as we all remember him with his newspaper and pen in hand ready to do the crossword. The second image is how we all saw Keith, as the Superhero that he was Caz remembered Keith as a brilliant quiz teammate with an encyclopaedic store of random facts, and a man who genuinely loved a doggy bag after an event! Helen recalled the time Keith won a little teddy dog at Bingo that she had donated. A few days later, he showed her photos of “Lucky” sitting happily in his kitchen, telling her it was one of his favourite ever wins. Gus shared that his favourite part of the day at the Centre was doing the crossword with Keith, especially on the occasions when Keith forgot his glasses and read out entirely the wrong clue! Keith (Taylor) remembered spending the whole of the Christmas break with him, stripping down and repainting the Oxygen Chamber together. He was thankful to have the company and a helping hand. Amrik spoke movingly about how Keith had driven him all the way to Birmingham and on to Heathrow when his father was critically ill in hospital, making it possible for him to see his father one last time. “I will never forget Keith,” he said, “and will always keep him in my heart.” Dawn and Monique remembered that Keith would help anyone, staff and members alike, even if it meant an airport run in the middle of the night. Dawn spoke of him bringing fish and chips round to her house just for the company. “We were his family, without a doubt,” she said, “and we felt the same about him.” Millie described Keith as the kindest person she has ever met, and was moved to share that even in the early months of this year, when he was already unwell himself, he continued to bring members to the Centre. He also took the time to check in on Millie during her own health difficulties a few years ago. “He was like a father-figure to us all,” she said. Victoria told us that every member of staff, past and present, when they heard of Keith’s passing, said the same thing: what a kind man he was. She also shared the lovely memory of Keith bringing Penguin biscuits into the office and waiting patiently for everyone to read the jokes aloud. Angela remembered how Keith was always on hand to get new members to the Brightwell, knowing how important their therapy was to them. She was also personally grateful to him for getting her to work when her own car was off the road, and for making sure she got home safely after one too many at a Centre event! Stella and Carol paid tribute to his loyalty and dedication, saying: “Keith, you were loyal and dedicated, steadfast and committed. You always put us first, and we appreciate everything you did to get us to the Centre and back home. You are greatly missed.” Caroline and Barry were unable to be with us in person on the day but sent their heartfelt wishes. As fellow northerners, they felt a special bond with Keith and wanted to make sure their thanks were passed on. They described him as “a funny, gentle and kind man” who thoroughly deserved a celebration in his honour. Lauren simply said, “Keith was genuinely one of the most selfless people I have ever met. His face and banter lit up the office.” And Rachel put it beautifully: “Keith, you used to make me laugh so much with your jokes, and you were always so caring, with me and with everyone.” These are just a handful of the stories shared on the day. There were so many more, funny, tender, and full of love, all of them painting the same portrait of a man who gave and gave without ever asking for anything in return. A Flower Memorial We are delighted to share that Keith will be remembered at The Brightwell in a special and lasting way. As many of you will know, The Brightwell has been involved in the Woodstock Homes MS Garden, which featured as a pocket planting entry at the inaugural RHS Badminton Flower Show this summer. When the planting returns to its permanent home here at the Centre, we will be planting a commemorative flowering plant in Keith’s name, in a spot where we can sit, take a moment, and remember our wonderful friend. Thank You, Keith To everyone who came along, shared a memory, raised a cuppa, and helped us celebrate him, thank you. It was exactly the kind of afternoon Keith would have loved; full of good times, laughter and surrounded by friends. Keith Gilbey, volunteer, friend, crossword hinderer, Penguin biscuit distributor, and one of the kindest souls we have ever known. We were so lucky to have you, and we will keep you with us always. 💛