This Volunteer Week (June 3rd-9th) we pay tribute to all the amazing people who give up their free time for the British Liver Trust. Their efforts in raising awareness of liver disease and supporting patients and their families are invaluable. We simply couldn’t do it without them.
Volunteering is a fantastic way to make a difference, meet new people, and gain valuable skills. There are many different opportunities available at the Trust to get involved with and support our cause. You can help raise awareness in your local area, support us at events, and fundraise for us.
You could volunteer at our Love Your Liver roadshows, host a bucket collection or an awareness stand in your local area, review new patient publications, distribute leaflets in your local library, assist at our Winchester office, or share your story on our website and in the media. Every contribution makes a significant impact, so join us in campaigning for greater recognition of liver disease and liver cancer
Sally runs an Information Stand in her local area and started volunteering for the Trust after recovering from a liver transplant.
She said: I found the British Liver Trust when I was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis and was researching my disease online. I joined the Trust’s Virtual Support Groups prior to my transplant and said I would volunteer when I was well enough.
“I take a table full of literature and a collection tin to my local garden centre and supermarket and educate people about liver disease. It’s been very successful. I’m not just there to raise money, I want to raise awareness too. The people I speak to don’t know much about liver disease and think it’s all based around alcohol. They don’t know about the other causes so I talk to them about the food they eat, how much they drink and ask if they know the signs of liver disease.
“I decided to put a pre-transplant photograph of me on the table because I want people to understand what it’s like to live with liver disease, be on the transplant list and what a bad liver can do to your body. People are shocked when they see how I looked then because I don’t look anything like that now. If they go away and think about how to look after their liver, then I’ve done my job.
“I work four days a week so can’t volunteer as much as I would love to, but I still do my bit. We all take our bodies for granted, but liver disease could happen to anyone and that’s why everyone should volunteer.”
