Next Mission – South Sudan

I am now in the process of sorting the administration for my next mission with Doctors Without Borders. It was confirmed on Thursday evening that I will be joining the team in Leer which in the North of South Sudan see MAP. I will be away for 6 months and will be the nurse at the Therapeutic Feeding Centre. This little section gives a bit of information about the role of a TFC :

A Therapeutic Feeding Centre (or Therapeutic Feeding Programme) is designed to treat severe malnutrition through the gradual introduction of a special diet intended to promote weight gain after the individual has been treated for other health problems. The treatment programme is split between two phases:

• Phase 1 lasts for 24 hours and involves basic health care and several small meals of low energy/protein food spaced over the day.
• Phase 2 involves monitoring of the patient and several small meals of high energy/protein food spaced over each day until the individual’s weight approaches normal.

MSF uses foods designed specifically for treatment of severe malnutrition. During phase 1, a type of therapeutic milk called F-75 is fed to patients. F-75 is a relatively low energy, low fat/protein milk powder that must be mixed with water and given to patients to prepare their bodies for phase 2.During phase 2, therapeutic milk called F-100, which is higher in energy/fat/protein content than F-75, is given to patients, usually along with a peanut butter mixture called Plumpy’nut. F-100 and Plumpy’nut are designed to quickly provide large amounts of nutrients so that patients can be treated efficiently.Other special food fed to populations in danger of starvation includes enriched flour and porridge, as well as a high protein biscuit called BP5. BP5 is a popular food for treating populations because it can be distributed easily and sent home with individuals, or it can be crushed and mixed with therapeutic milk for specific treatments.

I am very happy to be joining the team in Leer, I have spoken to two of them already and they were very friendly and kind. I don’t have a specific date as yet but I will pop it on this site as soon as I can. It will be great to be back in the field and doing the job that I have now only been talking about for the last few years.  MSF do things , they don’t just talk about them and I was starting to feel frustrated.

I look forward to telling you about the mission. I will find a way to update the blog if possible. Please continue to support Doctors Without Borders, any donations via this site are always hugely appreciated and go directly to MSF.

Gambaru – Huge supporters of Doctors Without Borders via Walka2b – National Coverage!

I have been training at Gambaru since the winter of 2010. Jonathan and Francesca have worked with me from then onwards to ensure I was up to the rigours of the walk from Amsterdam to Barcelona and ongoing fundraisers. I have only ever felt positivity from them and everyone connected with the gym. It is fantastic to see their hard work and dedication acknowledged in a respected national fitness magazine.

Check out their magnificent story in Muscle and Fitness Magazine and then be inspired as I have been by the wonderful staff at Gambaru.  They can help you make a positive change in your life and will support you all the way. NEVER GIVE IN.

Burlesque Without Borders 5 – A Wonderful Night & Lots of Money For MSF

What a magnificent night we all had at Burlesque Without Borders 5. I have been on night duty this week and I am very sorry I have not reported back earlier.

The show was a sell out long before the night and we knew this was going to be a very special show.

So many people work hard to make Burlesque Without Borders the best Burlesque show in Yorkshire and I thank them all for their hard work. The list is immense so I will just say a massive thank you to you all. I do have to single out Lily La Belle as without her these shows wouldn’t happen. She works very hard on every aspect of BWB and I thank you Lily for all of your efforts.

Now the drum roll part! from Cupcakes to Burlesque, from Rockabilly to Raffles BWB5 was a huge success. The night has raised a staggering £1560.41 (don’t forget the 41p). This money is going to change a lot of lives and I thank our audience and donors for all they have done to help others via Doctors Without Borders.

THANK YOU

Back at Gambaru

it was wonderful to be back home today. I trained properly at Gambaru for the first time since I was unwell. It was so nice to be back at one of the two the places where I feel most at home in Harrogate. Gambaru and Bean and Bud, without them I would be rather miserable. The common factor is that they are run by incredibly lovely and positive people. Today seeing Jonathan, Francesca, Janelle & Emily just made me smile. Their unwavering positivity and encouragement to do my best drives me on. I feel very motivated to get back the fitness I have lost over the last couple of months . My legs will ache after a 10km run but thats fine, its a great way to get back into it. Thank you to my friends.

Friends of MSF Fun Run – Regents Park London 16th March 13

Now just imagine, You too could experience the joys of running like this happy sportsman. 

On Saturday the 16th March around 300 runners from all around London and the South-East will be taking to the paths in Regents Park. All of the runners will be raising money to go towards MSF’s work around the world.

There will be a 5km and a 10km route, and YOU choose which one you do. Set yourself a challenge, get training, find sponsors and have a great run in the middle of London!

The run will be timed with chip-timing, so you’ll get an exact time for your run. We’ll also be offering prizes for the best fundraisers and a goody-bag for all runners.

To apply have a look of the Friends website HERE 

This will be a fantastic occasion and is of course raising lots of lovely money for Doctors Without Borders. 

Burlesque Without Borders 5 – The Best Even Bigger

The best has just become bigger! BWB5 will be the only Burlesque Without Borders in 2013 so if you miss this baby thats all she wrote till next year.This is because I will be back in the field working with Doctors Without Borders from about June / July for 6 months.

With this in mind we have decided that No5 will be our biggest event yet . There will be a lot more added to this event but suck these up for now.

The night will of course take place at our home the Manhattan Club in Harrogate – Details of which you can find HERE

We have decided to offer a VIP area which will have waiter / Waitress service. The idea of this is to offer an area for a group to feel even more special and appreciated for a slightly elevated price (this is after all a fundraising night primarily) We are asking for £100 for this area for up to 10 people. If you are interested please email me on den0172@hotmail.com (also send all penis enhancement ads, awards of  £10,000,000 from Nigeria and general hate mail to this address).

The Team bringing you this wonderful night is as follows:

Compere: Snappy O’Shea – sexy, sassy, very silly and back by popular demand – awooga!!

Magic : Adrian Salamon – you won’t believe your eyes!

Music: The Jitters – you’ll be all shook up!

Burlesque:
Cherry Blossoms – bubbly beauty!
Penny Feathers – she’ll tickle your fancy!
Rusty Von Chrome – very, very naughty!
Ian Kognito – mysteriously seductive!
The Dandy Inferno – so damned hot!
Kosmic Kitty – you’ll soon be under her spell!
Lily La Belle feat. Andy Dennis – up to mischief again!

Plus : The CanCan Dollies – totally raucous and totally saucy!

Millinery Catwalk & Stall by Quaintrelle: Millinery by Claire Spooner

In addition we will have a number of great stalls at the back of the room to offer you some original and exciting souvenirs of your night at BWB.

There will also be some amazing Raffle prizes, some slightly less amazing Tombola prizes and the joy of being at the nicest place in the world for a few hours.

Click This Logo   to buy Tickets.

Every BWB event has sold out. Buy your tickets soon to avoid disappointment.

Thank You To The Hull & York Medical School

I would like to thank the Hull York Medical School for inviting me to talk at their Student Awards Ceremony on 21 November. I was just recovering after a brief illness and was worried I was going to miss out on this fantastic opportunity. As you can see in the photo by Kippa Matthews it was a very grand evening. I would like to thank Emma Edmunds for allowing me to talk at the event. I would also like to congratulate the award winning students. I look forward to working with you in the future. Perhaps with MSF …….