Gower AM welcomes Welsh renal charity to The Senedd

Gower Assembly Member, Rebecca Evans AM, has again this year welcomed representatives of the Paul Popham Fund, Renal Support Wales, to The Senedd ahead of World Kidney Day.

The Swansea-based charity, which visits The Senedd every year, was set up in memory of Paul Popham, who successfully fought renal failure for many years and benefited from two kidney transplants. It works with units and centres that treat and specialise in renal care in Wales to purchase items that will benefit renal patients’ quality of life, and to develop initiatives that will help improve their health, well-being and welfare.

Topics discussed during this year’s visit included the work of the charity, kidney disease, Organ Donation Week, which will take place September 2-8, World Kidney Day, and the British Transplant Games, which take place July 25-28 in Newport.

Claire Popham, Paul Popham’s daughter and one of the charity’s trustees, said she was delighted with how the visit went.

“Our annual visit to The Senedd is a very important date in our calendar,” she said. “It’s a chance for us to discuss our work and raise awareness of related issues, such as the need for more organ donors. We were delighted to have such a warm welcome on this visit, and that the AMs showed so much interest in what we had to say. There are around 10,000 people with renal disease in Wales and more at risk. It is our aim to ensure that we support all renal patients in Wales to help them enjoy a better quality of life. Visits like this can bring us closer to achieving our aim.”

Rebecca Evans AM said: “I always look forward to welcoming representatives from the Paul Popham Fund to the Senedd. The work they do in raising the issue and offering renal support is truly inspiring. It is charity that Swansea can be most proud of. The Paul Popham Fund is using first-hand experience of living with renal disease to make a positive impact on those diagnosed with renal disease and their families, to help those living with renal disease to live the best possible life. I would encourage the people of Swansea to visit the Paul Popham Fund Website and see how they can support the Paul Popham Fund in reaching their  goals.”

Notes to editors
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• The Paul Popham Fund was set-up and is run by close friends and family of the late and very much-respected Paul ‘Wally’ Popham. Everyone involved in The Fund has been inspired in some way by Paul Popham’s unrelenting optimism in the face of renal disease.
• The aim of The Paul Popham Fund, Renal Support Wales is to improve the quality of life of renal patients in Wales.
• The charity raises money by organising events that reflect Paul’s ethos and that he would have been proud of. It also raises money by encouraging others to organise their own events and support the charity in any way they can.
•  http://paulpophamfund.co.uk/
• For interviews, more images or further information, please contact Joanne Popham: 07538214968; joanne@paulpophamfund.co.uk