The Marjorie Collins Centre in Chadwell Heath is appealing for local businesses to help raise funds and organise events.
“Our donations have dramatically fallen by about £30,000 last year,” said manager Lorna Lawrence.
“We used to have support from several different organisations but, as they’ve got older over the last 27 years, it’s gone down.”
The centre is entirely self-funded and is becoming independent from the Multiple Sclerosis Society, which means it needs new sources of funding.
Lorna explained how businesses can help: “They can take a collection pot, host an event or sponsor an activity. We need ground maintenance, building maintenance.”
It is not just businesses, however. The charity also needs volunteer drivers and a cook.
The centre assists some of the 400 people with the disease who are currently living in Redbridge and the surrounding areas.
Many are forced to give up work and become isolated from society.
“They come here for exercise, they can have their nails and hair done and we host social events like bingo,” Lorna said.
“Volunteers also make sure to feed them nutritional meals so that they aren’t “reliant on microwave meals.”
Over the last three years, the Marjorie Collins centre has started working with doctors and nurses who now refer patients.
They are getting two or three new people each week according to Lorna, more than ever before.
“It would be devastating if the doors shut because we are busy.”
The breakfast is happening on Tuesday, 5 March from 7am to 10am.
Tags: Romford, Havering, Redbridge
