Birthmark Support Group Diary

Walk for Skin 2008

Join the Walk for Skin and help in the fight against skin disease.

As one of the charities supported by Walk for Skin the Birthmark Support Group is pleased to announce its affiliation again with the British Skin Foundation "Walk for Skin 2008". The Walk for Skin is the biggest multi-charity fundraiser for skin disease, and will be taking place at venues all across the UK.

There will be nine fabulous new walks in country parks across the UK. Walks are generally 3-6 miles long, with shorter and longer options available at most venues. This year the Walk will include added attractions at the Walk for Skin village; live music, entertainment, refreshments and of course fantastic goody bags for all participants. Joining the Walk for Skin couldn't be easier - simply choose a venue and register free of charge, either online at www.walkforskin.org.uk or by phone on 0207 391 6341. Once registered, entrants will receive a sponsor form, walkers' pack and information about their chosen venue.

Fund raisers can nominate the Birthmark Support Group to receive 50% of funds raised, so be sure to enter state this on the form if you want the Birthmark Support Group to be one of the beneficiaries of your efforts.

Join your local Walk for Skin at:

• London Regent's Park Sunday 27th April
• Bristol Ashton Court Estate Sunday 11th May
• Glasgow Pollok Country Park Sunday 11th May
• Birmingham Sutton Park Sunday 18th May
• Manchester Heaton Park Sunday 18th May
• Southampton Itchen Valley Country Park Sunday 8th June
• Newcastle Tyne Riverside Country Park Sunday 15th June
• Leeds Temple Newsam Sunday 22nd June
• Cardiff Bute Park Sunday 29th June

Appearance Matters 3 Conference, Explore@Bristol Science Centre, Millenium Square, Bristol

1st - 2nd July 2008

The Centre for Appearance Research, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol are organising a conference in Bristol in early July 2008. It aims to highlight current psychosocial research and good practice around appearance-related issues, with a particular focus on provision of care and patient information.

Further details of the conference can be obtained from the Appearance Matters 3 web page

Contact Details are as follows:

e-mail: CAR@uwe.ac.uk

Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 83967

Fax: +44 (0) 0117 32 83645

FIT Trip to the Pub, Brunswick Tavern, 97 Picadilly, Manchester M1 2DB

18th August, 2007

So we were out in the pub again! The Brunswick Tavern is a great place and the food is lovely! Be warned it comes on funny shaped plates which can suddenly make your table very crowded… I had shepherds pie which arrived looking like no other shepherds pie I’ve ever seen but it did taste good! I was also informed that the Fish ‘n’ chips were great. Some of the greedy boys complained their sausage and mash wasn’t big enough, but it looked fine to me!

We were also very lucky to avoid the Sunday because Manchester City were playing Manchester Utd! This would have been tricky for many reasons… one, because Jane Walker who organised the day is a City fan and I am a Man Utd fan and, two, because my poor Man U were beaten so I would have been grumpy and that would have been no way to thank Jane for organising it all.

We had a lovely afternoon chatting and getting to know each other. Thanks to everybody who made the time to come along and we hope to see you all again soon! Sadly I forgot my camera so there are no pictures of our outing! But I promise to bring it to Chigwell so my report from the Chigwell FiT Trip to the Pub will include pictures.

Orla

British Skin Foundation Walk for Skin

13th and 20th May, 2007

The Birthmark Support Group is pleased to announce its affiliation with the British Skin Foundation (BSF) “Walk for Skin 2007”. The Walk for Skin is the biggest multi-charity fundraiser for skin disease, taking place at venues all across the UK. The walks will take place on May 13th & 20th at the following locations around the UK and Northern Ireland.

Sunday May 13th

Holyrood Park, Edinburgh

Beamish, the North of England Open Air Museum, near Newcastle

Wollaton Deer Park, Nottingham

Bramham Park, near Leeds

University of East Anglia, Norwich

Belfast Castle, Belfast

Sunday May 20th

Beaulieu Motor Museum, near Southampton

Cosmeston Lakes County Park, near Cardiff

Cheddar Gorge, Somerset

Tatton Park, near Manchester

Windsor Great Park, Thames Valley

Regents Park, London

Lickey Hills Country Park, Birmingham

You can register online at www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk or by phone on 0207 391 6341. The walks range in length and difficulty from 3 to 5 miles so even the little ones can take part. For more details please see the website or contact the British Skin Foundation. Alternatively email Orla at FaceItTogether@birthmarksupportgroup.org.uk

FaceItTogether Group Meeting

Upstairs Private Room, George Inn, Borough High Street, London

Saturday 10th September, 2:30 - 5:30 pm

The first meeting of the ‘FaceItTogether’ group took place in London on Saturday 10th September. All adult members (aged 18 or over) with birthmarks were invited to attend at the George Inn on Borough High Street (just around the corner from London Bridge Underground Station) between 2.30 and 5.30 pm.

The group got together and discussed the format of the group and its aims. It was agreed that a questionnaire should be produced to research this area further. If you would like to get involved with the group please contact Orla Checksfield by emailling Orla on FaceItTogether@birthmarksupportgroup.org.uk.

Greyhound Pub Fun Day

Charcott, Nr Chiddingstone Causeway, Tonbridge, Kent

Bank Holiday Monday, 29th August 2005, 10:00 am - Last Orders

One of our members, Alison French, who also happens to be the Landlady of the Greyhound Pub in Charcott organised a Fun Day at the hostelry in aid of the group. Things kicked off early with a Car Rally/Treasure Hunt from 10:30 -12:00. Back at the pub lots of events were held to keep everyone amused. These included:

• French Boule
• Face Painting
• Games for Adults (or big kids) like 3-legged races
• Raffle
• Face Painting

As well as a copious supply of refreshments a BBQ was available to keep everyone going.

The day was a fantastic success which resulted in £283 being raised for the group. A cheque was presented at the Fun Day at Corams Fields on 11th September 2005 by Paige Wolfe, the landlady's daughter.

Huge congratulations to all involved.

Sea Faring Party

HMS Wilton, Leigh-on-Sea foreshaw,

Thursday 25th August, 7:00 - 11:30 pm

Avast there ye land lubbers. Bev Fulker, who heads up our Face It Together group for adults with birthmarks, organised a party with a distinctly nautical theme. Set aboard an ex-Royal Navy Minesweeper which now serves as the Essex Yacht Club Headquarters an evening of wine, dancing and live music was held to raise funds for the group. The evening was truly special as the ship affords spectacular views across the Thames Estuary.

Here's Bev's Report:

The party was a great success! We would like to thank The Essex Yacht Club for granting permission for this fund raising event on the Wilton. The Rock and Roll band "Fiscal" provided the entertainment free of charge and Jubilee catering were an enormous help with a special price for the buffet. The storm passed just in time and we were treated to a beautiful blue sky, high tide and then a pretty sunset at 8.30pm.

The buffet was delicious and we danced all night. Local people and businesses were very generous - here is the list of donations for prizes

• Richard Copping - speed boat ride/fishing trip
• Paper Princess at the Lazy Witch - Leigh Broadway - voucher
• Karma Hair Salon Leigh Road - voucher
• Woo Hair Salon - Southend - voucher
• Vibe Jeans - Leigh Road - voucher
• Southend United FC - tickets
• Southend Odeon cinema - tickets
• Palace Theatre - Theatre Tickets to Woman in Black
• Diagio/Guinness - bottles of spirits
• Southend College - dinner for 4 at the new brasserie
• Ora Shima Indian Restaurant Leigh Broadway - voucher

Many thanks to everyone who supported the event. Their contributions and Bev's enthusiasm resulted in £1000 being raised for the group - a fantastic achievement.

Launch of 'Face It Together' and 'Teentalk'

Great Ormond Street Hospital, London

Monday 18th April 2005

Monday 18th April 2005 saw the official launch of 'Face It Together' and 'Teentalk', our new Adult and Teenage Support Groups, in the Board Room at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Our new Patron, Esther Rantzen, made her first appearance for the group and after being welcomed by our Chairman, Nick Ward, was escorted around one of the birthmark wards.

They then proceeded to the Board Room where Esther was introduced to members of the Birthmark team at GOSH as well as members of the BSG committee, and representatives of the different age ranges who make up our Group: young children with their parents, teenagers and adults.

Nick, called the gathering to order and introduced Professor John Harper of the GOSH Birthmark unit. Professor Harper, congratulated Nick on completing the London Marathon for the group the day before and managing to appear so spritely. Professor Harper then went on to talk about the origins of the group and how the group was formed originally just for families of children with birthmarks. He said that it was natural now for the group to evolve and seek to include all age groups.

Professor Harper then raised the issue of funding for research into birthmarks as there is nominal official funding provided in this area.

Then it was Nick's turn to speak. He spoke of his past association with the group and his recent acclimatisation to the role of Chairman. He thanked many key people in the group including Jane Linward, Mark and Toni Lingfield and the rest of the committee. In talking about the teenage group he spoke of the special challenges teenagers can face and that it was the one of the functions of the group to provide support and advice to help them meet these challenges.

Nick then oversaw the presentation of three very generous cheques from Railston and Manchester High School for Girls to Esther Rantzen. It was then Esther's turn to talk.

Esther spoke eloquently of the issues faced by people who may appear different and cited through her and her late husband's experiences an awareness of the problems that can result from an unconventional appearance. Esther then proceeded to launch the 'Face It Together' and 'Teentalk' groups. Esther appeared on the Paul O'Grady television show later on that afternoon and spoke warmly of her new role as Patron to the group.

Here's the day in pictures:

Esther and friends on the ward	Nick opens proceedings
Esther receives a cheque from Manchester High School for Girls	Esther talks about the launch of the new groups
Jack meets Esther	Esther receives a stunning contribution from Railston
Tom, Esther and Nick	Esther and David Atherton receive another remarkable contribution from Railston for David's Research into CMNs
Zainab and Esther become firm friends	I name this ship.....