Skin condition charity thanks care home for promoting its cause

Charity DEBRA, the only national organisation that helps those affected by the rare skin condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), has praised the efforts of a Poole care home in helping the cause.

The Laurels & Pine Lodge residential care home has been holding fundraising events throughout the year in order to raise money and awareness for individuals with EB, having made DEBRA its Charity of the Year for 2012/13.

A condition that causes the skin to blister and shear at the slightest touch, EB is caused by a breakdown in the natural proteins that hold skin and internal membranes together.

In supporting the charity, the home was moved by the story of a local child who has been diagnosed with a severe form of the condition. Mason, aged four, attended the presentation of a £500 cheque to the charity, accompanied by his mother Kerry, where they met regional fundraising manager Ruth McBain.

Ms McBain warmly thanks the locals for their help, saying: “Without the support of individuals and organisations in the community, it would be impossible for us to support people living with this debilitating condition, which even at its mildest causes serious blistering on the hands and feet and in more severe cases affects the whole body including internal linings. The blisters and sores have to be lanced and dressed daily – a painful procedure, taking hours. In its worst form EB is fatal in infancy and can cause aggressive skin cancer in young adults.”

Mason’s condition shows many of these severities, with the condition meaning that he has to be fed through a gastronomy button in his stomach since the lining of his oesophagus came away. Despite wearing bandages permanently and taking multiple trips to hospital, however, young Mason is described by his parents, Kerry and Rod, as a ’cheerful and comical’ character, with mother Kerry saying “. . . it’s Mason’s smile that has helped me through the bad times.”

Activity organiser Ann Smith thanks friends and relatives of residents for their help, particularly in relation to a successful Summer Fete that assisted with the fundraising efforts. Ms Smith described the event as, “A wonderful opportunity for residents to spend time with their friends and relatives, meet new people and enjoy a fun-filled afternoon whilst raising money for a very worthwhile charity in the process. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make the event so successful and to everyone who supported us on the day.”

Charity DEBRA provides specialist care for individuals with EB, supports the development of specialist treatments and attempts to find a cure.

click here for more details or to contact The Laurels & Pine Lodge