I would personally like to ask your readers to support an award campaign organised by the National Kidney Research Fund called the 'Young Hero' awards.
Kidney disease can have a truly devastating effect on a child's life. It is often a "silent" illness and people may not even be aware they have it until at an advanced stage of renal failure - at which point they may often have to go on dialysis, and become candidates for a transplant. Kidney disease can affect a large number of people. For example, thirty babies are born each day with a condition called Vesicouretic Reflux, which can lead to kidney infection, scars, high blood pressure and kidney failure.
The National Kidney Research Fund is looking for children who have been affected by kidney disease and shown real fighting spirit - whether they suffer from a kidney condition themselves, or have a close relative who is affected (recent estimates indicate that 50,000 young people under the age of 18 are carers). The two national Young Heroes will receive a cheque for £2000, £500 of which can be spent as they like and £1,500 to be contributed to a local cause, whether it's their local school, hospital, social centre or doctors surgery. The campaign is running locally in your area, as well as nationally.
You can find out more by ringing the National Kidney Research Fund Helpline on 0845 300 1499 (local rate). They will be able to supply an entry pack, as well as answering queries on kidney disease that you may have. And if you want to make a donation to help the National Kidney Research Fund work towards finding a cure for kidney disease, call freephone 0800 783 2973.
I gladly support a campaign that raises awareness of kidney disease. So if you know of a Young Hero whose childhood has been irrevocably affected by kidney disease please tell The National Kidney Research Fund about them.
Thanks for your help.
ANTHEA TURNER