MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferers in Alton and Bordon are so disillusioned by difficulties in accessing ongoing physiotherapy under the NHS, they have decided to go it alone. They have signed up to DC Leisure's IFI (Inclusive Fitness Initiative), purchased their own £4,000 exercise machine – and now they want to buy another. The Alton and District branch of the MS Society have bought into the 'self help' ethic and purchased a Medimotion limb trainer that can be used, not just by members but by people with a wide range of neurological problems. The new machine is based at the Mill Chase Leisure Centre in Bordon but the aim is to purchase another Medimotion for use in the gym at Alton Sports Centre. Managed on behalf of East Hampshire District Council by DC Leisure and the EH Leisure Community Association, Mill Chase was one of 149 centres in the UK to achieve IFI accreditation in September 2005 – and so successful has it been that Alton Sports Centre and the Taro Centre at Petersfield are about to follow suit. Initially sponsored by Sport England, the aim of IFI is to provide inclusive and accessible fitness facilities for all, with equipment that can be adapted for use by able-bodied and disabled users, and staff who are able to provide specialised training and support. IFI activator Sue Lewis said in order to achieve full IFI accreditation Mill Chase had to undergo a major refurbishment with improvements and changes to access and facilities, new and adapted equipment, and specialist staff training. Since then the centre has seen a 15 per cent increase in use by people with disabilities and that figure is rising with customers travelling to Bordon from as far as Alton, Farnham and Petersfield. Alton and District MS Society members were directed towards the IFI programme by NHS physiotherapists. The MS sufferers were finding it difficult to secure ongoing maintenance physiotherapy as part of a service which is expensive for the NHS to provide and which has to cope with overwhelming demand. According to former MS Society chairman Bernie Green, using the IFI programme has opened up a whole new way of life for him. It provides access to the sort of fitness training that is essential for the wellbeing of those with conditions like MS. But, he explained, while members learnt how to use other machines at the gym in Bordon, the key machine used by NHS physiotherapists was not available. So it was that in September last year, when they began patronising the Mill Chase Leisure Centre, MS Society members struck a deal with DC Leisure that allowed them to loan a Medimotion machine from the NHS and to site it in the gym. Three months later they had managed to find the £4,000 to buy it. Described by Sue Lewis as "superb", the Medimotion bike enables people in wheelchairs to exercise their arms and legs, either actively or passively, using power assistance to compensate for any lack of strength in the muscles. Bernie Green says that what this and the rest of the IFI programme has done is to enable MS sufferers to up their level of fitness and to improve their physical and mental wellbeing, by regaining a degree of social contact and increasing independence. But for those living in the Alton area travelling to Bordon it is often difficult and the MS Society is hoping to develop a similar opportunity at Alton Sports Centre. The aim is to raise a further £4,000 to purchase another machine which members are hoping could be installed later this year – once Alton has attained IFI status. According to EHDC leisure management co- ordinator, Noni Entwistle, East Hampshire District Council is fully supportive of Alton striving for an IFI Mark. And, while the way in which accreditation is now achieved has changed, she confirms that Alton has achieved the first stage in a three-tier accreditation programme. Like The Taro, Alton Sports Centre has registered its intention and in the summer of 2007 was subject to an IFI audit to determine what had to be done to achieve IFI status. It has submitted a bid to DC Leisure and to EHDC for funding in the new financial year (from April 1) to undertake the necessary access and facility improvements, to provide specialist or adapt existing equipment and for staff training. If all goes well, IFI inspectors are expected to undertake another audit in June to assess the level achieved. "We are fully supportive of the concept of making our fitness facilities accessible for all. "It means that people with impairments can come to the centre and not feel any different from anyone else using the facilities," said Ms Entwistle who further confirmed that the benefits of the Medimachine for customers with neurological conditions has become quite clear. l Alton and District MS Society is always happy to welcome new members – for further information or if you would like to support the Medimachine appeal contact Spiro Sueref on 01420 561259.