WI Newsletter – April 2014

April has not been such a busy month for us, but there were still opportunities to meet up with fellow members. Our Supper Club went to the Bell & Crown at Hatherden this month. A large group of us gathered to enjoy good food, fine wine and entertaining company

The walking group enjoyed a lovely stroll around the villages of Stoke & St. Mary Bourne – the weather was kind and the surplus water is much reduced, but there is still evidence of the heavy rains endured recently in the very wet fields and breached river banks. We enjoyed great hospitality at the White Hart in Stoke. Opened especially for us walkers, our hosts put on a superb hot buffet. There was plenty to choose from and it was rude not to have seconds!

Sue George hosted this month’s coffee morning and the reading group continues to meet to discuss their latest choice.

A small sub-committee has been busy planning our programme for the 12 months commencing in June 2014. Next month will see our Annual meeting (it seems to come round quicker each year). There will be a change at the top as both our Secretary and President have indicated they wish to step down, but there is a strong rumour we have volunteers ready and willing to take over.

How many of us have heard of Obliterative Bronchiolitis? I suspect none of our members, but now we know it is a rare and irreversible lung disease resulting from an injury to the lower respiratory tract. Lynne Thompson was unaware of it as well, until her eight year old healthy daughter caught a common cold in 2005, which turned into pneumonia. Several months later she and her family were given the news that she now had this rare condition, which is treated using antibiotics, physiotherapy (daily) and sometimes oxygen therapy. Surgery may be necessary including lung transplants in some circumstances.

Discovering that there was very little known about OB and lack of any support groups, Lynne dreamed of setting up her own charity and just two years later in 2005, the Breath Takers OB Trust came into being. Lynne and Corporate Fundraiser Rachel Titchener explained that the Trust now offers support to 90 families worldwide. They do this by raising awareness of OB with medical professionals, support OB research, offer a family grant and provide medical equipment where necessary and organise wish days. They also hold conferences so that families can get together to help assuage feelings of isolation and loneliness which can often be experienced by those affected by this disease.

At our next meeting on 29th May we will also be debating organ donation, as this is the Resolution to be voted on at the NFWI AGM in Leeds on 7th June.

Diary Dates

10 May – Walking Group

13 May – Reading Group

15 May – Supper Club

29 May – Annual Meeting & Resolution – 7.30 p.m. in The Village Hall

30 May – Anton & Danebury Group Quiz

Sharon King