Anne, Kathleen and myself were lucky enough to be invited to the Mayor's reception celebrating the work of the community and voluntary sector in Gateshead on Friday 10th July 2009.

The reception was held in the newly re-furbished St Mary's in Gateshead which is now a heritage centre, it was certainly a lovely venue for the reception.

We were invited as representatives from one of the three charities chosen by the Mayor for his year in office.

The Mayor presented three 'Gateshead Awards' and the three recipients all certainly deserved a medal for the voluntary work they do in the community.

After the presentation we had a lovely lunch of sandwiches and cream cakes with orange juice, tea and coffee to drink.

The Mayor then circulated the room meeting people as he went around and we were one of the groups of people he stopped to talk to.

We took the opportunity to thank him for his support and he explained that at the end of his year in office he will divide all funds raised at charity events between his three chosen charities, so that is wonderful news for A.D.D.E.R.

In addition he is committed to raising the profile of dystonia and of the work that A.D.D.E.R. performs.

He is a lovely friendly man with a smashing geordie accent and I am sure he will indeed raise awareness of dystonia a great deal.

I hope we get the chance to meet him again soon.

Gill Ainsley

A.D.D.E.R. Volunteer