Greetings from a sunny Maidenhead!

Hello there! This is my second blog and the last time I wrote to you it was a chilly winter day and we were in the very busy build up to Christmas. Well Christmas has come and gone but we are still just as busy here at NRAS! I work on both the helpline and the RA Self Management Programme and have been here for six months now. The time has absolutely flown by!

I have spoken to many of you on the helpline and arranged volunteer support calls for quite a few of you as well. If you would like to speak to someone who understands what you are going through then please feel free to give us a call on the helpline and we can arrange for you to speak with one of our telephone support volunteers. We have over 100 volunteers that are trained to speak on the telephone about whatever aspect of your rheumatoid arthritis (RA) you would like to discuss.

In the past six months I have been lucky enough to get out and about and meet some of you. I attended the launch of the Taunton NRAS group in March. It was a fantastic evening with over 150 attendees and many interesting guest speakers. It was lovely to be able to meet some of you and to see the dedication of those who got the group up and running. I am sure it will continue to be a great success!

I have also been working on the RA Self Management Programme and we are thrilled that it will be officially launched in July. The programme can help you to understand more about RA and learn skills so that you can gain greater control over your condition. It is about being able to manage your RA and day to day life in the best possible way. If you are interested in finding out more about the Self Management Programme please email [e-mail].

It seems as though spring has sprung; the sun is shining, the sky is blue and the birds are singing. Easter is also upon us with chocolate everywhere you look. I need to get busy buying some Easter eggs for friends and family as Easter Sunday is fast approaching! I hope you have a lovely break.

Best Wishes

Laura

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a wonderful service,,, spoke to some lovely volunteers when first diagnosed lovely ladies x