Doing my bit! A couple of charities you might consider supporting.


Cycling for charity

Cycling for charity

By the time you read this I should be in bed asleep!

Why? I hear you cry!

Well, if all goes according to plan I will have just completed a 100k cycle ride around London. Called Nightrider which should increase the pulse of those of us born in the 80s. Yes I know a different spelling but who cares!

This year I am raising money for a UK based charity called Refuge which helps the victims of domestic violence. You can make a small donation here.

In previous years I have also cycled for the autism charity Dimensions UK. One of the reasons I like these guys very much is that they organise film showing at cinemas especially for families where a member is on the autistic spectrum. As the father of a son with autism I can tell you that they deserve your money. So please give them something here.

Thanks for listening and thanks very much for donating!


National Psoriasis Awareness Month – Five things you need to know about psoriasis.


Psoriasis Awareness

Psoriasis Awareness

August is National Psoriasis Month. Run by the National Psoriasis Foundation is run every year for the whole month. Among other things they run a great blogging section called http://services.psoriasis.org/treatment-tips/it-works-for-me/ which actaully provides tips for living with Psoriasis. Do check it out!

At PatientTalk.Org we like to support different healthcare related awareness months and this is no exception. A slight change in tacj we thought we would produce a blog post outlining five thinks you need to know about psoriasis!

So what actually is psoriasis? We have share these five basic facts about psoriasis which we would like to share.

1) Psoriasis is a chronic (long term), (and happily) noncontagious autoimmune disease that presents on the skin. It occurs when
the immune system sends out the wrong signal which in turn increase the rate of growth cycle of skin cells.
2) Psoriasis is the autoimmune disease with the highest prevalence in the USA with an estimated 125 million people worldwide live with psoriasis. That’s nearly 2% of the world’s population!
3) Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of the disease, affecting 80 percent of those with
psoriasis. It appears as raised, red patches of skin covered by silvery, white buildup called scale.
But there are other types of psoriasis as well these include :
o Guttate psoriasis: Small dot-like lesions
o Pustular psoriasis: White blisters surrounded by red skin
o Inverse psoriasis: Occurs in armpits, groin and skin folds
o Erythrodermic psoriasis: Intense shedding and redness of skin
4) Psoriasis may appear anywhere on the body, but normally occurs on the scalp, knees, elbows
and torso.
5) The causes of psoriasis are still unknown. Both genetics and external factors known as triggers play a
role in the development of the disease. Triggers include: injury to the skin, infections, stress and sometimes adverse reactions to other treatments.


Wiltshire Police Officer is running to raise money for the MS Society – please like and share to show your support for her.


Lisette HARVEY

Lisette HARVEY

Lisette Harvey, an officer with Wiltshire Police, has started a series of runs to raise money to raise money for the UK’s MS Society.

She says ” I have been touched by the devastating effects of MS after losing my brother-in-law, Daren Davies, aged 39.

I have decided to start this challenge to support those suffering from this disease and to contribute to the fundraising for medical advancements to find a cure.

I commit to spending the next 14 months challenging myself by way of running, walking and other activities that push me out of my comfort zone.

Please support in any way you can to fight this life changing illness that impacts on all involved with MS.

Thank you!!”

Ms Harvey has set up a Just Giving Page here. Please do give generously to this important cause!