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2006 April 24 - Mum of liver transplant boy Tinspired to jump 10,000ft for CLDF

A north Dorset mum, whose baby son was diagnosed with a liver disease and underwent a life-saving liver transplant in January, is taking to the skies early next month to raise funds for a children’s charity close to her heart.

Kay Murphy, who lives at Blandford camp with solider husband Tony and children Dylan (1), Cai (3) and Ella (5), is undertaking the jump on 6th May to raise funds for Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF). 

CLDF is the only organisation in the UK dedicated to stamping out childhood liver disease. The charity gave vital practical and emotional support to Kay and her family when Dylan was diagnosed with biliary atresia shortly after his birth on 9th February 2005.

Biliary atresia is a disease in which the bile ducts become progressively blocked leading to irreversible liver damage.  Dylan underwent a corrective operation called a “kasai” (named after the Japanese surgeon who pioneered the procedure) at King’s College Hospital, London, when he was just two months old. Unfortunately the operation was unsuccessful and Kay and Tony were given the devastating news that Dylan’s only hope was a liver transplant.

Dylan was placed on the transplant list for the desperate wait for a donor organ to become available.  Dylan’s condition began to seriously deteriorate but luckily in January Kay and Tony got the call they’d been waiting for and Dylan received his life-saving transplant.

Dylan is doing well, although he will never be totally out of the woods and will require monitoring and daily medication for the rest of his life to prevent him rejecting his new liver.  Kay is now keen to help raise funds for CLDF and awareness of childhood liver disease.  

Kay says, “When we found out Dylan had a life threatening liver disease we were devastated, we didn’t even know that children could be affected by liver disease.  We have since learnt that two children are diagnosed with a liver disease every day in the UK so funds are desperately needed for research and to help CLDF support affected families.  We know from personal experience what a tremendous difference this makes.  I turn 30 on 8th May and as I approached this important milestone I thought I’d try something I’d never done before to raise funds.  A parachute jump seemed like the perfect challenge!”

The jump, which takes place at the Devon and Somerset parachute school, Tiverton, will see Kay freefalling 5,000 ft at speeds of 120mph, before riding her parachute a further 5,000 ft down to the dropzone.  

Kay, who will be jumping for the first time, adds, “Although I’ve done some fundraising for the charity before this is definitely the most adventurous activity I’ve tried!  I’m excited and nervous all at the same time. Although I’m strapped to an instructor, I think the worse bit will be stepping out of the plane. After that I might even enjoy it! 

Cheering Kay on will be friend Lisa Lewis and her family, who also live on the camp.  Lisa’s daughter Charlotte (6) also has biliary atresia but is currently doing well without the need for a liver transplant, although this could be required in the future. 

Catherine Arkley, chief executive of the Foundation, said: "We are delighted that Dylan is doing so well four months on from his transplant and are extremely grateful to Kay for deciding to do a parachute jump on the Foundation’s behalf.  Fundraising of this nature is so vital to us, helping ensure that we can fund new research projects, educate more healthcare professionals and support more families”.  

If you would like to sponsor Kay please contact her on 01258 488 965.

For further information on the work of the Foundation, please visit www.childliverdisease.org or call 0121 212 3839 for a fundraising and information pack.

Ends

For further information on this story please contact Rachel Markham,
Children’s Liver Disease Foundation on 0121 212 6012, e-mail: communications@childliverdisease.org

Note to editors:
The Children’s Liver Disease Foundation is a unique national charity that fights childhood liver diseases through funding pioneering research and educating healthcare professionals and the general public. Formed in 1980, it provides professional, emotional support to families affected and is the only organisation of its kind in the UK.

Childhood liver disease – the facts
• More children in the UK are currently diagnosed with a liver disease than childhood leukaemia
• At least two children are diagnosed with a liver disease every day in the UK
• Most childhood liver diseases are life threatening; all mean a lifetime of care
• There are over 100 different liver diseases that can affect babies, children or young people
• For most childhood liver diseases the cause is unknown
• Liver disease has no cure
• CLDF is the only organisation in the UK dedicated to stamping out childhood liver disease