Mike Hedges AM welcomes Welsh renal charity to The Senedd

Mike Hedges AM welcomes Welsh renal charity to The Senedd

Mike Hedges welcomed representatives of the Paul Popham Fund, Renal Support Wales, to The Senedd on Wednesday March 13 ahead of World Kidney Day on March 14.

The Swansea-based charity, which visits The Senedd every year, was set up in memory of Paul Popham, who successfully fought renal failure for many years and benefited from two kidney transplants. It works with units and centres that treat and specialise in renal care in Wales to purchase items that will benefit renal patients’ quality of life, and to develop initiatives that will help improve their health, well-being and welfare.

Topics discussed during this year’s visit included the work of the charity, kidney disease, Organ Donation Week, which will take place September 2-8, World Kidney Day, and the British Transplant Games, which take place July 25-28 in Newport.

Claire Popham, Paul Popham’s daughter and one of the charity’s trustees, said she was delighted with how the visit went.

“Our annual visit to The Senedd is a very important date in our calendar,” she said. “It’s a chance for us to discuss our work and raise awareness of related issues, such as the need for more organ donors. We were delighted to have such a warm welcome on this visit, and that the AMs and MPs showed so much interest in what we had to say. There are around 10,000 people with renal disease in Wales and more at risk. It is our aim to ensure that we support all renal patients in Wales to help them enjoy a better quality of life. Visits like this can bring us closer to achieving our aim.”

Mike said he was pleased to welcome the charity to The Senedd.
“Being a patron for the charity It’s a pleasure to sponsor a yearly drop in for the Paul Popham Fund at The Assembly. It is a great opportunity for AMs to learn about the great work the charity does especially the befriending service’’