People living in Ayrshire and Arran whose lives are affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) have been invited to a community event later this month.

The Living Well with MS Ayrshire and Arran event is being held on Friday, August 30 at the Riverside Lodge in Irvine.

Entry is free and the event is for anyone living with MS as well as their family members, friends, and carers.

Joanne Newall, coordinator of the MS Society Ayrshire and Arran group, said: “I’m super excited that the Living Well with MS event is coming to Ayrshire.

"It’ll be fantastic to have MS-specific speakers and some great exhibitors in one place locally. It's a great opportunity to learn new things, meet new people, and share experiences about MS.

"I really hope this event will bring our community together and start a feeling of inclusion within it."

The day will be being jointly hosted by MS Society Scotland and the MS Society Ayrshire and Arran Group, in partnership with the MS Society Scotland Council.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear ‘The role of metformin in helping myelin production’, a talk by Dr Rebecca Sherrard Smith, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Regenerative Medicine at The University of Edinburgh.

Dr Sherrard Smith, whose research is funded through the Edinburgh Centre for MS Research, said: “I will be giving an overview of my research that is investigating whether Metformin, a drug used to treat diabetes, can help human cells of the central nervous system produce more myelin by boosting their metabolism.”

MS Society-funded Octopus is the first ever multi-arm, multi-stage trial for MS. It’s testing multiple drugs at once, at sites throughout the UK, to find treatments that will slow, stop or even reverse disability progression in progressive MS.

Following a complimentary lunch, a ‘Mindfulness Moments’ session will be run by Wellness Coach, Courtney Fisher.

Also speaking at the event will be Dr Jenny Preston MBE, a consultant occupational therapist at NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

Her talk, ‘Myth Busting Occupational Therapy and MS’ will see her discuss the basic concepts of occupational therapy and how being aware of these can help to benefit people living with MS.

A similar MS event was held in Inverness earlier this yearA similar MS event was held in Inverness earlier this year (Image: MS Society)

She said: “In this presentation, I will explore some of the myths about the profession and help people discover the three basic concepts of occupational therapy: you as a person; your environment; and your ‘occupations’.

"Occupations doesn’t just mean work. It’s a broad term for the things we do that bring meaning and purpose to our lives. It’s the things that bring us pleasure and joy. It’s the mundane chores and routines of everyday life. And it’s our hopes and aspirations.”

During the lunch break, as well as later in the afternoon, guests will be able to browse stalls and take part in taster sessions run by a variety of local and national organisations.

MS Society Scotland will have its own stall at the event, providing information, leaflets and resources relating to the work the charity does.

Representatives from Helping Hands Kilmarnock will provide information on the practical assistance they can offer disabled people, which includes help with household tasks and small DIY jobs, a shopping service, and wheelchair loans.

Social Security Scotland representatives will be on hand to offer advice on claiming benefits and discuss the new Adult Disability Payment (ADP).

Other exhibitors confirmed so far include Kilmarnock-based Cortex Physiotherapy and Thistle Help, which specialises in mobility equipment and daily living aids.

Three local authorities will be represented with East Ayrshire Council’s Community Health and Activity Team (CHAT), North Ayrshire Council’s Active Lifestyles Team, and South Ayrshire Council’s South Ayrshire Young Carers’ Service all booked to attend.

Morna Simpkins, Director of MS Society Scotland, said: “We’re really pleased to be co-hosting Living Well with MS Ayrshire and Arran.

"Our local groups do a fantastic job of bringing their communities together, reducing isolation, and offering support through events, activities, exercise classes and more. It’s wonderful to be able to work with them – in this case the Ayrshire and Arran Group – to jointly host these Living Well events.

“More than 17,000 people in Scotland live with MS. It affects the brain and spinal cord and impacts how people move, think and feel. Symptoms are different for everyone and are often invisible."

Registration opens at 10am for a 10.30am start, and the event runs until 3pm.

This is a free event but places must be booked at tinyurl.com/ayrshiremsevent, where additional information can also be found.