Members of Arnie’s Table Tennis Club in Laurieton are passionate about helping to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research, while catching up over a social game.
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The group formed about five years ago and while its membership has grown substantially, members are always looking for new players keen to join.
Terry Memory got the group up and running and named it after his brother-in-law Arnie who died from MND.
MND can affect a person’s ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. This is because neurones which control muscles fail to work normally.
Mr Memory witnessed the degeneration of Arnie, as he cared for him in the last year of his life.
Mr Memory remembers Arnie as a ‘wonderfully active, charismatic man’. He said the disease doesn’t effect the mind and Arnie was still very much mentally present despite his body failing him.
The eldest members of Arnie’s Table Tennis Club are Val Clark at 86-years-old and Kevin Atkins who is 85-years-old.
Val has been playing as part of the group for years and said a person is never to old to start.
She said she finds playing rewarding as it helps to keep her physically and mentally active.
Mr Memory said the members who attend have become very close and will often bond after playing a game over some cake and coffee.
The members play every Friday between 2pm and 5pm at the Laurieton United Services Club. Beginners are welcome and all equipment is supplied.
For more information or to join people can contact Terry Memory on 6559 6435.