Update, by Jane Walker
Usually at this time, I am well under way with preparations for our main bronchiectasis fundraising event of the year, our annual Christmas Concert. None of us imagined at our joyful concert last year that, little than three months later, our lives would be transformed by a pandemic. Normally, by October, I would have run 5 or 6 stalls in the UCLH atrium which runs alongside Professor Brown’s Friday morning clinic. I miss all the preparation sourcing goodies to sell and making my cards and I miss seeing everyone at UCLH – some of our supporters come to every stall. I will be restarting the stalls as soon as I am able to in 2021 and will keep you updated via the Breathing Matters website. Fortunately, I was able to do my usual annual St Valentine’s Day stall, which was extra special this year as the actual date of the stall was Friday 14th February!
Whilst my fundraising activities at UCLH are on hold, I have been coming up with imaginative ideas so my fundraising can continue during the COVID pandemic. During the lockdown in early May, I set myself a challenge to walk 3 miles each day over 7 days. With my lung condition, I manage shorter distances each day, but I was determined to do a much longer walk every day as a fundraiser. I set up a JustGiving page and contacted friends, family and our concert supporters and on the JustGiving page, I posted notes and photos from my walks to share with everyone. Through JustGiving and other donations, my walks raised a superb sum of £1000. I was very touched by everyone’s kindness and generosity.
Our Christmas concert last year raised over £4000 for research by Professor Brown and his team of scientists at UCL. We are very sad we can’t be all together for our annual concert this year – our friends in the Holst Singers are planning to put a small special treat together for us and I will be in touch with further details closer to Christmas.
A very big thank you to our bronchiectasis family of friends and supporters!