The Trust's Fourth Birthday: The Past Year
This week celebrates the fourth birthday of The Amy May Trust, here we reflect upon some of the events that have marked this past year.
Amy has continued to put an enormous amount of effort and enthusiasm into every session of therapy that she takes. Her endeavours reward her with acclamation and praise from therapists who remark on her willingness and tenacity to work on the tasks in hand and continue her progression.
Amy's Annexe at the home of her parents, Sue and Roger, has now been built; especially fitted out ready for occupation and awaits to welcome her home. Maldon Building Services, along with many of their contractors very generously contributed to the build, working through freezing conditions during the tail end of The Beast From the East with warm hearts, playing a vital role in Amy's homecoming aim.
So many generous people have fundraised for us over the past year, they have run Marathons, climbed mountains, tackled obstacle courses, challenged minds on quiz nights, sung like angels, boxed, baked, danced and threw fabulous fancy dress occasions. In July, The Amy May Trust put together our own team to take part in an evening half Marathon, the searing temperature of the hottest evening of the summer was matched by the warmth of those talking part - many of whom were new faces to us, directly brought together by their support to Amy and The Amy May Trust. It was a huge privilege to have everyone with us and a very memorable occasion.
Media attention continued, Gloria Hunniford spent the day with Amy and her parents for BBC's Rip Off Food, interviews took place with Sky News and ITV's This Morning, all providing valuable footage in highlighting the seriousness of living with allergy and need for greater education and awareness - an aim central to the work of The Trust. Sharing Amy's story has been a huge part in raising allergy awareness both nationally and globally.
We continue to develop a programme of education, providing video information for a school in Dubai, which has been used to address staff and medical practitioners, and our educational posters have been downloaded by schools and hospitals countywide.
In September we were asked to take part in the London Freshers’ Fair, where we spent a day chatting to a new intake from many universities across the Capital. It was refreshing to learn how interested these students who were starting on a new chapter of their lives were in learning about allergies, and heartening to realise that many already appreciated and respected the potential consequences of trivialising the condition.
The numbers of individuals who have signed our petition continue to swell, currently standing at 331k and feedback continues in abundance. Last week, we were invited by Aviation Minister Baroness Sugg to attend a roundtable discussion along with representatives from UK major airlines, the Civil Aviation Authority and Airlines UK. Thoughts were shared on how future air travel could become consistently less stressful for those people who have to be constantly on high alert when travelling by air, fearing unnecessary food items on board which make them feel as though they are playing Russian roulette when they fly. We appreciate that there is no easy, quick fix to this global issue, but we are working hard and will continue to do so to develop greater consistency between airlines and safer routines within the industry. Every signature we receive greatly helps us on this road.
It has been a good year for The Trust which has continued to evolve and grow. Amy has been medically stronger this year and she continues to take on her rehabilitation with enthusiasm and humour. Imminently, there is a positive change in circumstances ahead, so watch this space...!
Thank you to you, The Amy May Trust community. We are truly grateful for your support.
Trustees of your Amy May Trust,
Julie and Tom Martin
THE YEAR IN NUMBERS