End of year message from Lynne Regent, CEO the Anaphylaxis Campaign

The Anaphylaxis Campaign has a very busy and productive year in 2016 and I would like to thank everyone who has supported our charity, from our members, to our fundraisers to our volunteers – also everyone who has made a donation – thank you so much! We cannot campaign without your support.

• We have continued to campaign in 2016 for people who are prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors to have two devices available to them at all times. We have had discussions with the Medicines Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) throughout the year and we will continue these important discussions in 2017.  You can read our latest update on our website.

• A key campaign for us in 2016 has been our Anaphylaxis Matters Campaign – AIM. The objective of AIM is to increase knowledge of allergy in the UK so people are referred to specialists sooner and are also prescribed the medication they need.  In 2017 we will be launching an online tool to help you discuss with your GP your, or your child’s allergy, so watch this space!

• We held our annual Orange Wig Day in May and thank you so much to everyone who took part!  Orange Wig day will take place on Friday 19^th May 2017, and once again we want you all to get wiggy! 

• This year we have published two editions of our magazine Outlook, you can read both the March  and September editions online.

• We continue to grow our network of support groups across the country, and we now have over 45 groups – all run by volunteers who are also affected by allergy, they have a real understanding of the anxiety and challenges severe allergies can cause. Find a support group near you here.

• We have had some fabulous national press and TV coverage, including The One Show, The Daily Mail and the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2.

• Our membership scheme continues to provide tailored support to families and individual living with severe allergy and the many challenges this brings. Our members also play a big part supporting our work and without them the charity simply could not exist.  If you would like to join us you can find out more and sign up today on our website.
• We also have a very active Healthcare Professional membership scheme.  Our Healthcare Professional members include a wide range of medical professionals who work within the field of allergy.  They include school nurses, allergy nurses, GPs and Allergy specialists.
• Our Corporate membership includes many companies who are involved in some way with the management of allergens and protecting their allergic customers. They include Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Cadbury’s, MEDA (who market EpiPen in the UK) and Waitrose.

In 2017 we need your support so we can continue our life saving work.  You can fundraise for us, take part in Orange Wig day or simply make a donation – everything helps.

On behalf of all my staff and the trustees of the Campaign I wish you all a very Happy Christmas!

Lynne Regent