Story
I'VE DONE IT AT LAST!!! :)
I've Completed my 26 mile swim and survived!
Thank you for taking the time to look at my page and for all your generous donations. It has been a good journey with lots of kind encouragement. I really have appreciated your support and your generous funds will play a big part in helping raise awareness and finding medical solutions to this condition for future generations. You have all helped to make a difference. Thank you x :)
Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1AD) is a genetic condition which causes progressive lung and liver damage, due to a lack of antitrypsin protein (AAT) in the blood. It is a devastating and indiscriminate disease, affecting individuals of all ages and lifestyles from athletes through to infants. It requires ongoing research in the UK. Many countries offer augmentation therapies to delay the progression of lung and liver disease, but more safe and effective ways of protecting patients still need to be found, especially in the UK where there are no licensed treatments available as yet.
The Alpha 1 UK support group gives advise to patients and families affected by this condition and monitors the condition as part of the ADAPT clinical research project in Birmingham. Campaigning for parliamentary awareness and for a nationally commissioned specialist service with access to treatment for Alpha 1 patients in the UK is also a priority.
I would be incredibly grateful if you were able to consider making a donation to this worthy cause. We need to ensure that future generations have access to treatment and advise nationally.
As an ex international springboard & highboard diver I have led a very active lifestyle, so it was a big shock to discover that I should be affected by a condition such as this.Whilst I am still relatively fit (!), my intention is to complete a marathon swim over the summer months (26 miles in total). Without the Alpha 1 support group and ADAPT programme there would be no support structure or monitoring of this condition in the UK. Through their tireless campaigning, more is being found out about this genetic condition, and more GPs are becoming aware of it. The Alpha 1 support group relies on the generous donations of the public to keep these services going.
More information on the condition and research can be found at:
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
Thank you so much!