These
past few weeks since the AGM have been
busy for me and the WKPA Committee.
The magazine has been sent and I hope you have managed
to make time to read it especially with Christmas
coming up. I particular enjoyed the article on our
three Welsh athletes at the British Transplant Games
in Belfast. Myself and a few others attended the
first meeting of Welsh Government's All Wales Cross
Party Kidney
group. It was good to meet all the Assembly
Members who are interested in helping patients by
listening to us and then influencing the Minister
and Government. A major issue for us is supporting
the opt out legislation and I would like to take
this opportunity to ask you to write in to provide
your views on the opt out. Finally if you have any
concern or want some help dealing with your kidney
problem then justcontact us either
byphone, letter oremail
Patient Gerald
Davis, from Bridgend, South
Wales,and Liz Baker, Lead Nurse for Renal
Services, in Morriston Hospital, Swansea,
talk about the new self-care dialysis unit which
is empowering kidney patients and giving them
greater flexibility over their dialysis treatment.
Staff in the unit work with patientsto train them
how to use dialysis machines. Patients can
then either carry out the treatment in their own
homes, or come into the hospital to dialyse
themselves, which offers them increased
flexibility about when they have their treatment.
My name is Martin Dutson, I am 47 years old
and a dialysis patient. Having lost a kidney aged
4, and until my remaining one failing last year,
I was unaware of the fantastic work of the WKPA.
This prompted me to do something positive and give
something back to society. I love old cars and a
challenge , so what better than to put the two together
and hence " Martins Minor Marathon ".My car is a
1965 Minor Saloon in need of a little TLC. My marathon
is to rebuild her and complete an End to End run
from Lands End to John O'Groats for the WKPA. It
is planned to start off in Lands End on 27th July
2012 and trundle back to Wales by that evening. Saturday
the 28th at about 11am will hopefully take me to
Morriston Hospital Swansea, with a few more Minors
in tow from the South Wales Morris Minors Owners
Club who are sponsoring the WKPA this year by using
it as their chosen charity for 2012.After a little
chit chat and some camera clicking, some nibbles
are planned in the local pub before taking a ride
up the Neath Valley to Hirwaun. Then up the A470
to Brecon and on to Hereford before heading up through
North Wales where I think the car could do with a
well earned rest and myself a CAPD bag change. Sunday
morning 29th July, will probably see a few tears
as we say goodbye to Wales for a journey north into
the unknown !! Anyone who wants to come to Morriston
Hospital on 28th July to see the car along with some
more classic Minors will be most welcome. Alternatively
the SWMMOC are having their annual rally at St. Fagans
Museum Cardiff on Sunday 20th May 2012 where everyone
is welcome for a great family day out.
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