Charity
The Fungal Research Trust is a small charity based in the UK registered in 1991. It partly funds the Aspergillus Website which provides information and support for patients, doctors and scientists who deal with aspergillus infections. Aspergillus infections are often fatal and are fungal diseases which can affect patients undergoing treatments for cancer, transplants, asthma, cystic fibrosis, CGD and those who may be immune suppressed for whatever reason. The charity aims to promote education about aspergillus infections, to support scientific research into aspergillus, to improve its diagnosis and treatment and to support the training of specialised scientists working in this area (mycology).
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The Steph Smith Appeal Himalayan Challange
The Steph Smith Appeal - Himalayan Challenge
We are attempting the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage race over a period of five days, in which the terrain climbs from 6,500ft to 11,500ft and also includes a marathon around Mount Everest. The distance run over the 5 days are split up as follows; Day 1 -24 miles, Day 2 - 20 miles, Day 3 - 26.4 miles (marathon), Day 4 - 13 miles, Day 5 - 17 miles. It is a gruelling event that will push us to our limits, dealing not only with the distance, but terrain and most difficult of all the altitude.
We are attempting to raise £5,000 for the Fungal Research Trust. It is a non-profit charity established in 1991 and it aims to raise awareness of Aspergillus Fumigatus. There is very little knowledge known about aspergillus and therefore 95% of the Trusts expenditure is on research. Aspergillus, which is also known as farmer’s lung, mainly invades the lungs and sinuses, but can spread to other organs such as the eyes and brain.
With aspergillus mainly attacking the lungs, asthma sufferers are particularly vulnerable to this little know about infection. In 2009 Lewis’s partner (Steph) was taken ill. She was a very mild asthmatic and was diagnosed with having invasive aspergillosis. Eleven days after taking ill and only five days after the diagnosis, Steph passed away aged 21. Aspergillus not only affects asthma sufferers but also leukaemia and bone marrow transplant patients. Invasive aspergillosis is increasingly affecting other hospital patient groups and is extremely difficult to treat, with long term sufferers having a very poor quality of life.
Click on the blog (below) to find in depth details of the race, reviews, the training plan and news of our training progress.
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Recent donors
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Anonymous £150.00 (+ £37.50 giftaid) 01.01.12 |
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James Hotchkis £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 18.12.11 Liz, I hope you have a good Christmas |
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The Muskus Family. £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 01.12.11 Jo says "for a beautiful friend who has left me with many good memories, never forgotten..." |
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Kristofer Anderson (Aka DJ Tofer) £3.00 (+ £0.75 giftaid) 12.11.11 I had to put an extra £3 just so it took it to £8,000!!! Well done guys!!! |
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Kristofer Anderson (aka DJ Tofer) £850.00 (+ £212.50 giftaid) 11.11.11 Money raised from Charity Hawaiian Luau, a donation from everyone that attended. A great night for a great cause. Well done Lewis and Aaron |
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Mary Oag £30.00 (+ £7.50 giftaid) 10.11.11 Well done Lewis. We thoroughly enjoyed reading about your challenge. You were amazing!! Hope you are giving your feet and knees a bit of TLC!! Take care! The Oag Family |
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Jim & Julia Breen £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 08.11.11 An awesome achievement, congratulations! |
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Liz Smith (Steph's Mum) £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 05.11.11 Have a FUNtastic Hawaiian Night!! Herewith a small donation for the raffle!! Hope the knees hold out on the dance floor Lewis!!! It's a shame Aaron & Claire will nopt be there to this evening but enjoy, you deserve it after what you've just endured! X |
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Amanda Clayton £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 04.11.11 Brilliant job chaps! Was fantastic to meet you and what you are doing is inspiring. |
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gill neish £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 02.11.11 Great job guys. Very well done. |
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Sally Bird £5.00 (+ £1.25 giftaid) 01.11.11 Great cause and well done. |
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Maxine Smith £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 01.11.11 Well done guys. |
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Shahad £10.00 27.10.11 Fantastic achievement! Well done!X |
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Dave Best £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 21.10.11 Keep going guys! Good luck and watch out for Yetis / the Yeti. |
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Alayna Rodgers £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 20.10.11 totally in awe of what your attempting for such a great cause. good luck x |
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Anonymous £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 19.10.11 |
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Catherine Bell £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 17.10.11 Good luck x |
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Jan Young £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 14.10.11 Good luck guys xx |
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Steve & Selina £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 14.10.11 the very best to both of you, we know you'll do miffy proud xx |
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Lauren Mackay £30.00 (+ £7.50 giftaid) 13.10.11 Good Luck Lewis! xx |
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Hannah Slesser £40.00 (+ £10.00 giftaid) 10.10.11 What an inspirational challenge in memory of an amazing person. You certainly don't pick the easy options Lewis! I wish you all the luck in the world with this challenge and you know that Steph will be with you every step of the way. Xxx |
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lynsey bolton £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 10.10.11 good luck!!!!!xxxx |
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Justin Morris £30.00 (+ £7.50 giftaid) 07.10.11 |
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Aine £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 06.10.11 Fair play Aaron and Lewis - there's not many could do this! It's for a great cause and I wish ye all the best! |
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Jamie Begg £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 05.10.11 Good luck guys and a very good cause in memory a great lass. |
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Steven Mills £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 04.10.11 All of us BABW guurls think you are AMAZING Lewis. We are so proud of you. GOOD LUCK!!! |
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Hailey £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 04.10.11 Good Luck Lewis, Im sure you'll ace this! |
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Kenny Macleod £5.00 (+ £1.25 giftaid) 04.10.11 Very best of luck, Steph was one of the nicest people I met and It was an honour to know her |
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Fiona Macleod £20.00 04.10.11 All the best of luck with this epic challenge. Such a great cause. |
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Lee Jack £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 04.10.11 Its amazing everything you are doing bud. Wish you both the best of luck on your adventure |
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Donna McWilliams £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 04.10.11 Lewis all the best to you and your team. X |
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Hunter £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 03.10.11 Good luck Cous.... |
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Claire Challinor (McDiarmid) £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 02.10.11 All the best Lewis, steph was a beautiful girl inside and out. She would be so proud of what your are doing. Xx |
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Rachel mcgillivray £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 02.10.11 Good luck guys,well deserved charity xxx |
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Alex mcinnes £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 02.10.11 All the best Lewis and team |
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Leona Ross (Steph's cousin) £10.00 02.10.11 I'm sure Steph will be with you every step of the way Lewis, she would be so proud of you |
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DannyDuncan £30.00 02.10.11 Donations at Tractor Road Run held near Nairn today (02.10.11). |
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Priestley Family £100.00 (+ £25.00 giftaid) 27.09.11 We'd all like to wish you the best of luck on your himalayan aventure! we will all be thinking of you! your hardwork training will be worth it. we are really proud of you and steph will be too. love and best wishes! (: xxxx |
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Gina Holmes £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 18.09.11 Well done on raising so much money. We are all so proud of you. Stay safe and looking forward to reading your progress. |
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Rich Dunnigan £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 15.09.11 And I thought running a marathon was hard enough! Good luck mate, all the best. |
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Seonaid and Scott £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 09.09.11 |
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Jamie, Nicole & Ellie £15.00 (+ £3.75 giftaid) 03.09.11 Good Luck |
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Mark Magennis £25.00 (+ £6.25 giftaid) 01.09.11 GO AJ..WIN THE RACE... HAPPY GO-KARTING in GREENBANK!!! |
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John Masson & Mary Macaulay £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 19.08.11 No matter what - you will enjoy the experience - very best of luck on a very worthy journey. |
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Liz and The Smith Family £100.00 (+ £25.00 giftaid) 19.08.11 There could be no better way to acknowledge Steph's 24th Birthday than with a donation to acknowledge your amazing efforts for Aspergillosis in her memory. You never take the easy option Lewis! Your Guardian Angel, Steph, will keep you both safe! XX |
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Paul Dinneen £20.00 06.08.11 Good luck Lewis |
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David Nash £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 03.08.11 Good luck with the trip guys! |
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Anonymous £1630.00 (+ £407.50 giftaid) 27.07.11 Good Luck Guys, what your doing is Amazing! I know Steph will be with you both every step of the way! |
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Steven Munro £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 11.07.11 Good luck! |
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Caroline & Sanders Fraser £100.00 (+ £25.00 giftaid) 09.07.11 Good luck on your challenge. |
