Columbyne Mark Lodge based in Stowmarket, agreed to donate £250 to Suffolk Oxygen Therapy Centre, which is part of the Suffolk MS Therapy Centre. This followed a proposition from one of the lodge members who volunteers at the facility. Match funding was then sought from the East Anglian Mark Benevolent Association, which was granted and resulted in a total donation of £500.
Centre Manager, Sean Chrysanthou attended Columbyne Lodge for the presentation, thanking the lodge for the generous donation which would contribute towards refurbishing the disabled toilets.
The Suffolk Oxygen Therapy Centre has been operating for over 30 years and was one of the first of its kind specifically designed to offer Oxygen Therapy to people with Multiple Sclerosis. With three barometric chambers (decompression chambers) they are able to treat up to sixteen people at a time.
Located in Great Blakenham, just outside Ipswich, the centre is staffed by fully trained operators and supported by volunteers, who pride themselves on the friendly and relaxed environment they create. It is funded entirely by donations from its members for their therapy, fund-raising activities and donations from outside individuals and groups.
Oxygen Therapy involves breathing medical grade oxygen through a mask whilst sitting, for an hour, in a barometric chamber at 1.5 to 2 normal atmospheric pressure. We all live under the pressure of the atmosphere, therefore the extra pressure required for the therapy is minimal. The technology is well-established and has a 100-year history. However, it is only relatively recently been recognised, that even when the level of oxygen in the blood is normal, there can be severe deficiency in tissues. Now the science is understood, the use of Oxygen Therapy is expanding rapidly around the world. It has been found to benefit a wide variety of conditions, including Multiple Sclerosis.