Story
Thanks for visiting my fundraising page!
My name is Adam Divall (also to known to alot of people as Boney), I am 29 years old and on June 16th 2008 I received a life saving double lung transplant due to being in the end stages of the genetic lung disease Cystic Fibrosis. When I was placed on the Transplant list I was told that I might not survive 2 years due to the damage that Chest Infections had caused over the years. I was extremely lucky and waited just under 4 months before I got that call.
Transplants not only save lives but change them beyond recognition - before the surgery I was having to sleep with the use of a NIV (Non Invasive Ventilator), was constantly coughing all the time, and walking just the shortest of distances would get me breathing out of every orifice. Since the Transplant I have finally got my life back again - I can meet friends, walk the dog, started playing sports again and I am going back to work. All of this was made possible because of the generosity of my donor and their family, as well as the brilliant staff at both Harefield Hospital and the Churchill Hospital Cystic Fibrosis Unit.
After being persuaded by some members of staff from the Churchill Hospital Cystic Fibrosis Clinic and now that I feel like the energiser bunny, I decided to take on a physical challenge to show that I really am putting these new lungs to good use!
So far I have persuaded a group of people to run, jog, walk the Reading Half Marathon on the 29th March 2009 with myself. We hope to raise as much money as possible for both Harefield Hospital and the Churchill Hospital Cystic Fibrosis Clinic. The Half Marathon is 13 miles and despite the inevitable sore legs and feet, we hope to have a really fun day!
I am living proof that transplants do work, and do save lives. Sadly there are so many people who are not as lucky as myself due to the huge shortage of organ donors. I am donating the money to Harefield Hospital, which is where I received my life saving transplant and also the Churchill Hospital Cystic Fibrosis Unit who have managed to keep me alive for so long.
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the UK's most common life-threatening inherited disease and affects over 8,000 people in the UK. Over two million people in the UK carry the faulty gene that causes Cystic Fibrosis - around 1 in 25 of the population. If two carriers have a child, the baby has a 1 in 4 chance of having Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis affects the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, by clogging them with thick sticky mucus. This makes it hard to breathe and digest food. Each week, five babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis. Each week, three young lives are lost to Cystic Fibrosis. Average life expectancy is around 31 years, although improvements in treatments mean a baby born today could expect to live for longer.
Please dig deep and sponsor us the money is going to an extremely worthwhile cause. We are all very grateful for any donations received!
Thank you,
Adam
The team....so far!
Adam Divall, Matthew Divall, Carl Evans, Michelle Evans, Neil Walker, Heather Walker, Adam Girvin, Sarah Girvin, Nicola Meredith, Peter Dermody, Dean Collins, Kathryn Holley, Helen Winter, Lyn Brace, Tamsin Webb, Jonathon Hord, Gary Pranglen
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Harefield Hospital gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.