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2004 May 18 - Concert For Liver Transplant girl

NEWS RELEASE

18 May 2004

Concert For Liver Transplant Girl

Adderley Buckland of Worthing, West Sussex has a lot to smile about as she has recently celebrated her 14th birthday and the first anniversary of a life saving liver transplant.

To raise money for the Children's Liver Disease Foundation, a unique national charity that fights childhood liver diseases through funding pioneering research and educating healthcare professionals and the general public, Adderley’s grandmother, Barbara Wesley and the members of the West Sussex Branch of CLDF are organising a concert.

Adderley was born with biliary atresia a rare condition in which the bile ducts in the liver become progressively blocked, leading to irreversible liver damage. Adderley’s condition deteriorated slowly over the years and on 19th May 2003 she underwent a life saving liver transplant.

Her mother Clare explains: "Gradually over the past few years Adderley was becoming more and more breathless. In October 2002 she was placed on the transplant waiting list. Deep down I had always known that she would need a transplant. As the changes in her were so gradual and she had done so well, I always hoped she would be the one who wouldn’t need one. When I found out I was devastated and she was petrified. But her quality of life had really deteriorated. She had to be given oxygen at home and a wheelchair to get around. For a lively young teenager this was devastating"

Since Adderley was diagnosed the family have received support from CLDF. Clare continues: "I first heard about CLDF when Adderley was in hospital. The literature we received from them when Adderley was diagnosed was really helpful. Having that information was brilliant. You want to read everything you can about your child’s condition. The local branch contacted us when Adderley was about one and we went to some of their meetings, now my mother is chairperson of the branch and I am treasurer."

She added: " One of the reason that myself and the members of the West Sussex Branch do so much fundraising for CLDF is because we know it is only through fundraising and supporting the Foundation that things have moved forward. The difference between how things were when Adderley was born and now has changed dramatically. I’m grateful that CLDF is there and that it has managed to change things for many other children in the same situation as Adderley. Most people do not realise that children get liver disease. In fact, one in every 2,700 newborn babies will have a liver disease, that is why raising awareness is so important."

Catherine Arkley chief executive of CLDF said: "We are so grateful to the members of the West Sussex Branch for holding this concert to raise money for us they have done a huge amount of fundraising for us. We believe that knowledge empowers the family and the child. At every step of the way but especially at diagnosis, the family have a desperate need for accurate, honest up to date information. CLDF can provide this information, but it is expensive. It is only through the help of supporters that we can provide this literature and continue to fund vital research. Effective research is the key to providing a future for children and young people with a childhood liver disease. For 24 years the Foundation has sponsored key research to great effect. For example, today children like Adderley with biliary atresia are alive, thanks, amongst other things, to CLDF’s significant efforts. Hopefully the money raised from the concert will go someway towards helping other young people like Adderley."

The concert called ‘A World Worthy of its Children’ performed by the St-Martin-in-the-Field singers is to be held at St Nicholas Church, London Road Arundel at 7:30pm on Saturday 19th June. Tickets are priced at £10 for adults and children go free. The proceeds will be donated to the Children's Liver Disease Foundation. For tickets and more information call 01903 883265.

For more information on the work of CLDF please call 0121 2123839, e-mail info@childliverdisease.org <mailto:info@childliverdisease.org> or visit www.childliverdisease.org <http://www.childliverdisease.org>

ENDS

For more information on this story please contact Rebecca O’Connor on 0121 2126012 or e-mail rebeccaOC@childliverdisease.org <mailto:rebeccaOC@childliverdisease.org>

CLDF FACTS

At least two children are diagnosed every day with a liver disease

At least two children have a liver transplant every week in the UK

There are over 100 liver diseases affecting children and young people, many of which are life threatening

CLDF is the only organisation fighting childhood liver disease through funding research, education for healthcare professionals and the public, and providing emotional support to families.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

CLDF receives no Government funding and relies totally on voluntary donations to continue its work. A donation would help is to continue our work.

Consider fundraising for CLDF through work-based charitable programmes, social events such as jumble sales or coffee mornings, or adventurous pursuits such as parachute jumps.

More information is available from www.childliverdisease.org or by calling 0121 212 3839 or writing to CLDF, 36 Great Charles Street, Birmingham B3 3JY.