Vasculitis Charity Ball Launches New Support Network

We are the first vasculitis charity to take vasculitis awareness to that level of exposure

The Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation's 2016 Black & Red Vasculitis Charity Ball, featuring 1990s boy band FIVE and The X Factor star Nicholas McDonald, has raised £14,500 from proceeds on the night to support the charity’s projects and raise awareness of vasculitis.

The glamorous event launched the first awareness television commercial for vasculitis and the Vasculitis Scotland support network.

The ball, held at the Glasgow Radisson Blu Hotel, welcomed over 250 guests dressed in their finest black and red attire. The evening started with a dance medley from Glee by the Glasgow Academy of Musical Theatre Arts (GAMTA) which was followed by an exciting auction and luxury raffle. Charity co-founder Grant Currie officially launched Vasculitis Scotland, a support network funded and managed by the Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation.

Grant Currie, who lost his only daughter Lauren to vasculitis six years ago, said, “I was at a meeting with the NHS discussing a way of bringing together all the clinics and consultants to try and improve vasculitis care across Scotland. One thing we didn’t have was a central database of patient information, the type of vasculitis that affects them and their location in Scotland. Vasculitis Scotland is here to help collate that information.

“On top of that, we are creating a community where patients in Scotland can access a lot more information about the support services available to them. We already have support groups in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh and we are introducing groups to Inverness and Dundee.

“The funds raised from the Black & Red Ball have gone directly into creating Vasculitis Scotland and also a television commercial to raise public awareness. We are the first vasculitis charity to take vasculitis awareness to that level of exposure. The commercial will be going out across Scotland on STV this week.

“Six years ago there were no support groups, there was no research in Scotland and there were certainly no television commercials raising awareness of vasculitis. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved for their generosity and helping to raise awareness of vasculitis.”

Patron of the charity Dr Hilary Jones provided a special video for the event where he congratulated the hard work of the charity and unveiled the plans for the future. Dr Hilary Jones explained, “As a patron of the charity I continue to be in awe of everything the charity has achieved, from raising awareness and funding research right through to investing in education and providing much needed support for individuals and families affected by vasculitis.

“As well as the Vasculitis Scotland initiative, the charity is also holding our first residential self-management course on vasculitis at the stunning Ardoch House in Loch Lomond. Patients will be provided with self-guidance as well as management support for themselves and their carer.

“The charity has also been selected as one of the 40 charity partners for the Nicest Job in Britain initiative, which will help with vasculitis awareness and provide much needed support and guidance in developing our services further.

“This is a great little charity very dear to my heart in memory of someone very, very special.”

The Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation was set up by Kilmarnock-based Grant and Adrienne Currie following the tragic death of their 15-year old daughter and only child Lauren in 2010. Lauren had suffered from Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (formerly known as Wegener's Granulomatosis), a variant of the auto-immune disease vasculitis. The event celebrated what would have been Lauren’s 21st Birthday.

Lauren's condition was only diagnosed in the final hours of her life and her parents realised that, with earlier diagnosis, her life could have been saved. Vasculitis is uncommon and early diagnosis is an important factor in the effectiveness of medical care. Because of this, public awareness of the condition is one of the charity's main objectives.

The Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation is raising the international profile of vasculitis, and is one of only two vasculitis-specific charities operating in the UK.

Links

The Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation: http://www.thelaurencurrietwilightfoundation.org/
Nicholas McDonald: http://nicholasmcdonald.co.uk/
Glasgow Academy Musical Theatre Arts (GAMTA): http://www.gamta.org.uk/
Vasculitis awareness television commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCH8CW108ak
Vasculitis Scotland: http://vasculitis-scotland.org/
Glasgow Radisson Blu Hotel: www.radissonblu.com/Glasgow
Dr Hilary Jones: http://www.drhilaryjones.com/
Dr Hilary Jones’ video can be found on the Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thelaurencurrietwilightfoundation/

ENDS

Images of the event are available on request.

Media information provided by Famous Publicity. For more information please contact Adam Betteridge at 0333 344 2341 or adam@famouspublicity.com, or Tina Fotherby at 07703 409 622 or tina@famouspublicity.com.

What is the background to The Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation?

Lauren was only 15 when she tragically and prematurely lost her battle with vasculitis five years ago on October 23 2010 at Crosshouse Hospital. Lauren died from Wegener’s Granulomatosis – a form of vasculitis which had remained undiagnosed until the final hours of her life. Lauren’s lungs had been fatally damaged by vasculitis, which resulted in internal bleeding and contributed to her death.

The charity was founded within a couple of days of Lauren’s death by her parents, Grant and Adrienne. The charity was named in Lauren’s memory as a tribute to their daughter’s inspirational character and features ‘Twilight’ in the title in recognition of the love she had for the Twilight books and the films. The charity was set up to help and support anyone affected by vasculitis, to raise awareness of the disease throughout the United Kingdom and to fund dedicated research that seeks to identify and improve treatments.

Lauren’s charity was formerly registered in Scotland in December 2010 with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). Charity Registration Number SC041934.