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2004 October 12 - Sisters are Doing It for Children's Charity

NEWS RELEASE

12 October 2004

Sisters Are Doing It for Children’s Charity

Two Milton Keynes sisters, Gemma Wiggins, 25 and Colette Williams 33 are preparing to jump 10,000 feet on Saturday 16th October when they do a parachute jump to raise money for the Children's Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF) after Colette’s son was diagnosed with a rare liver disease.

CLDF is a unique national charity that fights childhood liver diseases through funding pioneering research and educating healthcare professionals and the general public. It also provides professional, emotional support to families affected and is the only organisation of its kind in the UK.

In May this year, just a few months before his 11th birthday, the family’s world was turned upside down when Charlie was diagnosed with auto immune sclerosing cholangitis, a rare condition that causes damage to the bile ducts making it difficult for the liver to function properly. Colette explains: "Charlie kept complaining of stomach pain. I thought he had appendicitis and took him to the local A and E department but after lots of blood tests Charlie was referred to King’s College Hospital London. From there Charlie’s condition deteriorated very quickly. He was jaundiced, losing weight, unable to keep food down and tired and irritable most of the time. Once diagnosed Charlie was put on steroids and vitamin supplements and things improved immensely."

The sisters made the decision to do the parachute jump in the hope that they can raise awareness of childhood liver disease. Charlie’s aunt Gemma said: "Until Charlie was diagnosed I didn’t realise that there are over 100 different liver diseases that can affect children. Colette and I hope that by doing a parachute jump people will recognise how serious we are about helping the Foundation and other children in Charlie’s situation."

Colette continued: "When I found out about Charlie it was a huge shock. In front of him I stayed strong and would even joke about it but in private I cried for him. I felt so useless knowing that no matter what I did I couldn’t take away his illness. There is no cure for liver disease. In the event that the steroids no longer control his condition he will need a liver transplant. I hope that day won’t come."

Catherine Arkley, chief executive of CLDF, said: "Most people are unaware that at least two children are diagnosed every day with liver disease and these are just the ones that we know about. Young people like Charlie with need support from the Foundation to help them cope and come to terms with their disease and treatment. Effective research is the key to providing a future for these young people, and it is only through the support of fundraisers like Colette and Gemma that we can continue to fund vital research. We wish them every success in their efforts."

If you would like to sponsor Colette and Gemma or find out more about CLDF and childhood liver disease please call 0121 212 3839 e-mail info@childliverdisease.org or visit www.childliverdisease.org

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If you would like more information about this story please contact Rebecca O’Connor on 0121 212 6012 or e-mail rebeccaOC@childliverdisease.org