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An Abergavenny family and their friends hope to raise £10,000 during 2015 for Llandough Hospital’s All Wales Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre, a cause close to their hearts. The amount raised currently stands at £7,100.00.

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Beth Clarke (nee Morgan), 34, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) at 20 months old, and spends time at the centre which provides care and support for those living with this life long disease.
Along with her parents Michelle and John Morgan, husband Lyndon Clarke, family and friends, (under the name of Bertha’s Army)  she has been raising funds for the Better Life Appeal which supports the centre.

Beth explains that it is the only adult Cystic Fibrosis centre in Wales caring for over 250 patients, and rising. She says “throughout 2015 we hope to raise £10,000 for the Better Life Appeal, which in turn aims to raise £1.3m to equip a wing at the hospital which is ready and waiting thanks to The Welsh Assembly”. The patients are currently using a totally inadequate centre where facilities are shared, leading to risks of cross infection. The opening of the new wing would also increase the number of rooms from 7 to 15.

Up until five years ago Beth would visit the ward every four months to receive extra treatment but now visits every seven to ten weeks, but sometimes has to wait as there are no beds available.
She says “the centre is vital as there is a dedicated specialised CF care team of doctors and nurses, a specialist gym, and physiotherapists are on hand, but if there is no room then patients can end up being moved to different wards which lack the specialist CF facilities or wait at home until one becomes available. Extra beds would avoid this happening”.

Every week Beth takes 300 tablets, a mix of antibiotics and digestive enzymes, along with 63 nebuliser solutions, 42 inhalers and completes over 14 physiotherapy sessions.

Every morning she completes a two hour physiotherapy routine before taking medication and having a sinus wash. She then has to complete a one hour physiotherapy session in the evening.
Beth, along with family and friends, have set up a campaign to raise money for the ward with fund raising events throughout the year. There have been many events so far to include a music day at the Cantref Inn, cake sales, half marathons, quiz nights and most recently they took to the sky’s on the fastest and longest Zip Wire in Europe where they conquered The Snowden Zip Wire Challenge over the slate quarries of Bethesda.

There are more events to come, these include a music night at LLanfoist Village Hall in December but the focus of the moment is a live music night with The Black Rat Effect at The Kings Arms on Friday 23 October.

To learn more visit facebook.com/berthasarmy, find @berthasarmy on Twitter, Beth’s blog aboutbertha.wordpress.com. or to donate visit justgiving.com/berthasarmy

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