Anaphylaxis Campaign announces new president

The Anaphylaxis Campaign, a UK charity that supports the growing number of adults and children affected by severe allergies, has today (6 May 2020) announced its new president, former vice-president David Reading OBE.

On 2 April, the charity was notified of the sad death of its Honorary President, Dr. Bill Frankland MBE, who had supported the Campaign since its foundation in January 1994.

David will now continue the role that Dr. Frankland formed in supporting the charity’s work and helping to raise the profile of severe allergies.

A former journalist, David co-founded the Anaphylaxis Campaign after his 17-year-old daughter Sarah died of an allergic reaction to peanuts in October 1993. He worked voluntarily for the organisation as its chairman and became the charity’s full-time director in the summer of 1999. He was awarded an OBE for his work in 2005.

David has since retired from full-time work but works part-time for the Campaign ensuring that it continues to provide evidence-based and reliable resources for the allergic community.

David Reading OBE said:

“I had known Bill Frankland since the Campaign was set up 26 years ago and he was a much-treasured supporter of our work. I am delighted to have been asked to succeed him, although his example will be hard to live up to.

My main wish is that people will continue to support our work in these very challenging times. Most charities have been hit hard by the effects of the pandemic, and ours is no exception. The everyday problems of people who are at risk of anaphylaxis have probably receded in the minds of many people, but those problems have not gone away – they have just been eclipsed by other, very real issues. Therefore I would ask people to support our work in any way they can.”

Lynne Regent, CEO of the Anaphylaxis Campaign, said:

“David is a fantastic person to take up the role of Honorary President of the Anaphylaxis Campaign. He has brilliantly supported our charity since it began 27 years ago, at first as a founder, then as its Director and, in recent years as a key member of our information team. This is a great appointment for the Anaphylaxis Campaign.”