WORLD KERATOCONUS DAY!

Today is the first World Keratoconus Day organised by The National Keratoconus Foundation in the US. Their aim is to spread the word all over the world. #WorldKeratoconusDay

 

So today, I'm spreading the word by celebrating and announcing that on top of Barbican Insurance providing the Keratoconus Group (UK charity) with £7,500 this year, I've also received a charity award from Lloyd's of London with a donation of £2,000! In 2012 the charity had only received about £5,000. By the end of this year, we would have donated a total of £22,500!

 

Our fundraising has helped in many ways but one thing that really stood out to me is that the charity has been able to accept a grant for research at Moorefield's Eye Hospital this year (images below), in hope to find the cause behind this awful condition. The fundraising can't stop here, the more we raise, the more support we can give!

 

On a day as important as today it would be amazing to see more donations. Please click on the link below to donate: https://www.justgiving.com/kshsa

 

It doesn't matter how big or small, anything would make a difference to such a small charity.

Thanks to everyone who have donated so far and especially to Barbican Insurance for all of their support.

 

 

Keratoconus for life

Keratoconus is a condition for life until we're able to find a cure.

So I thought I would get something else for life...

I designed a symbol that would have a meaning behind this condition - A twinkle, it could represent a star to some of you but to me it's a twinkle of the eye. I might have an eye condition not known by many but I'm lucky to currently have this condition under control, others haven't been as lucky and I'm hoping this will become a trend for those who suffer.  

Keratoconus Group 25th Anniversary Conference

Thanks to all the fundraising efforts so far the KC group were able to organise their largest event this year which I attended on Saturday 17^th September.

The Keratoconus Group 25^th Anniversary Conference was organised for members which celebrated 25 years since the very first KC Group support meeting and 20 years since they became a registered charity.

Mike Oliver (Chair of the charity) had made a couple of funding applications to help cover the costs of the conference however the money that I’ve raised together with Barbican Insurance had contributed significantly. The members of the KC Group could not thank me enough at the conference and said our fundraising has helped enormously.

It was also announced at the conference that the KC Group were able to approve a grant for funding a research project that is part of a larger programme of genetic research into Keratoconus, led by Stephen Tuft, corneal consultant at Moorfields Eye Hospital. It was mentioned that in previous years, the KC Group would have had to say no to a request like this, but thanks to our efforts, they have been able to approve the grant. I’ve also been given the opportunity to visit the research facility at Moorefield’s Hospital.

It was amazing to hear that our fundraising efforts have had a huge impact for the KC Group and we will continue with our support.

There were some great speeches from professors, ophthalmologists and members themselves who helped support others who are suffering.

   

Crosslinking Treatment for Keratoconus

Treatment I was very lucky to have done but others are too late. 

Keratoconus has increased and now occurs 1 in 500 people vs 1 in 2000 in the past. 

Please take a minute to have a read, if you have any symptoms or concerns visit your opticians! ❤️👁

http://www.keratoconusinserts.com/c3-r-cxl-crosslinking.html

Around the World in 80 days Barbican Challenge complete!

 

I am delighted to confirm that Barbican officially made it around the world in 80 days and raised just over £5,000 for the Keratoconus Group!

 

Thanks to the 105 staff members who actively participated and completed this event by the 31st August.

 

Photo: Gaudi Park, view of Barcelona

Around The World In 80 Days Barbican Charity Challenge

The Barbican Charity Group are delighted to announce the 2015 Barbican staff charity initiative: ‘Eighty Days Around the World’ to raise awareness for three charities including Keratoconus. The challenge is to see whether Barbican staff members and contractors can collectively walk, cycle, run, swim, sail etc the equivalent circumference of the earth (40,000km) in 80 days.

We will be organising a number of group events (starting with the Crisis run on 11^th June and ending on 30^th August). I will be updating my blog as we do these group events.

As well as participating in group events, individuals have also set themselves targets during the 80 day period to help complete this challenge.

We will be recording the mileage through a Strava Barbican Group account, Barbican pedometers and self-assessment if Strava or pedometers are impractical.  

I have set myself the challenge to ice skate and cycle 200k within the 80 days!

You can track us but clicking:https://www.strava.com/clubs/123645

We’ve also set up a just giving page for all donations:https://www.justgiving.com/Barbican80Days

Charity Mad Hatter's Tea Party

A massive thank you to everyone who came to my Charity Mad Hatter's Tea Party. 

Such a great turn out with donations flowing in!