'HEPATITIS BROUGHT US TOGETHER'
“I felt utterly alone. I didn’t know anyone else who had hepatitis C. The only people I could talk to were on on-line forums for people who have the virus.” 
John Semple was at his lowest point, he had just discovered that he had hepatitis C and his wife was leaving him for another man.
Today John is facing the happiest day of his life, as he prepares to marry the woman who became his closest friend in the forum, Chrissy Davis.
John says: “Having hepatitis C has certainly changed our lives and finding each other has been the silver lining in the dark cloud that hepatitis can be. We have both learned how tough it can be and that has led us to raise awareness and offer support to those in need.”
They are getting married in Truro, Cornwall on 19th May 2008 to coincide with the first ever World Hepatitis Day as a way of drawing attention to the cause in the UK. This runs alongside MPs showing support and getting tested in Westminster, local GPs around the country taking the testing message to their patients and a big awareness drive in London’s Victoria Station.
John and Chrissy are opening their wedding day up to the media and will be available for interviews and pictures. Many of the invited guests are affected by the disease and will be happy to talk to journalists. This includes the Best Man, Clive Kirby, who received a life-saving liver transplant only 7 weeks ago.
Clive said: “I’m absolutely thrilled for Chrissy and John – they’re a match made in heaven and an inspiration to people everywhere. They really show that hepatitis C doesn’t have to be a curse. It’s just something you deal with. That’s why, if you think you are at risk, it’s really important you face your fears and get tested.”
After the ceremony, the wedding party will be travelling by vintage double-decker bus to Truro town centre. John and Chrissy will be manning a stall and handing out leaflets highlighting the illness and World Hepatitis Day. Details and timings for all the day’s events can be found below. ENDS
Notes to editors
1 Background information on the people involved:
- Chrissy contracted the virus in 1980 from a blood transfusion following the birth of her first daughter. She lived with the virus unknowingly for 20 years before being diagnosed. Chrissy went on treatment and successfully cleared the virus.
- John believes he contracted hepatitis C from infected needles. He went on treatment last year but unfortunately relapsed. He’ll start a new round of treatment this month.
- Clive, Best Man – has known Chrissy and John through a hepatitis C forum for two years. Aged 43 married with 2 children. He was diagnosed nearly 5 years ago, though doctors believe he had been unknowingly infected for more than 20 years before diagnosis. He believes he caught it from infected needles. His health went rapidly down hill, but today 7 weeks after his liver transplant he is starting to feel like a new man.
2 Wedding details
- Pre-wedding photographs of the bride and groom are available for publishing from here: http://www.bookerphotos.com/hct2/HCT2/sarah. The pictures are available for publication for free, but should be acknowledged: ‘Photograph © Sarah Booker’. The young girl is the Chrissie’s granddaughter, Tamara, who will be the bridesmaid at the wedding. She is 9 years old.
- For details of wedding and reception please contact Hratche Koundarjian, the Press Consultant to The Hepatitis C Truston 07905 911 039 or hratche.koundarjian@hepctrust.org.uk.
He will be in Truro from Sunday the 18th of May and can be contacted to book interviews, arrange camera positions for the wedding at Dalvenie House and handle media enquiries.
3 Other events for World Hepatitis Day – please see separate press releases or contact Raquel José, the Media Co-ordinator for The Hepatitis C Trust on 020 7089 6220 or raquel.jose@hepctrust.org.uk:
MPs are getting tested for hepatitis B and C in Parliament
Thousands of patients will be asked to assess their need for a hepatitis C test by GPs across the country
Awareness raising and fundraising collections in Victoria Station backed by a big poster of Anita Roddick
Global World Hepatitis International press conference in Geneva, Switzerland on 19th May coinciding with the World Health Assembly.
Pictures of the logo ‘aminumber12?’ being used across the world will be available on the 16th May.
4 More about hepatitis around the world
500 million people worldwide (1 in 12) are currently infected with hepatitis B or C.
This is over 10 times the number infected with HIV/AIDS.
Between them, hepatitis B and C kill 1.5 million people a year.
One in every three people on the planet has been exposed to either or both viruses.
Most of the 500 million infected do not know.
It is estimated that there are 230,000-466,000 people living with Hepatitis C in England, but less than 70,000 have been diagnosed. Around 320,000 people are living with hepatitis B in the UK, and this number is increasing.
More details about hepatitis C can be found at www.hepctrust.org.uk
The Hepatitis C Trust’s helpline: 0845 223 4424
6 A few of the celebrities who have been diagnosed with hepatitis C:
Anita Roddick, Pamela Anderson, Keith Richards, Anthony Kiedis and Marianne Faithfull.
MP'S GET TESTED FOR HEPATITIS
On Monday 19 May, the first ever World Hepatitis Day, a group of 12 high profile MPs will have a hepatitis B and C test in Parliamentto help raise awareness of the shocking fact that approximately 1 in 12 of the world population are infected with chronic hepatitis B or C.
Hepatitis C is often known as the ‘silent killer’ as people can live with it undiagnosed and without symptoms for many years. It is estimated that there are 230,000-466,000 people living with hepatitis C in England, but less than 70,000 have been diagnosed. Around 320,000 people are living with hepatitis B in the UK, and this number is increasing.
Dr Brian Iddon MP who is one of the MPs getting tested said:
“I am delighted to show my support for World Hepatitis Day by getting a hepatitis B and C test. It is shocking that almost 500 million people in the world have hepatitis B or C. These are serious diseases which kill 1.5 million people a year yet awareness is dangerously low with the great majority of those infected unaware of their status. Worryingly, most people don’t understand infection risks.
“If you think you may have been at risk of contracting either hepatitis B or C, then ask your GP for a test.”
Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Health said:
"I welcome World Hepatitis Day as a means of raising awareness of the importance of preventing, diagnosing and treating hepatitis B and C, which are important public health issues.”
Charles Gore, Chief Executive of The Hepatitis C Trust said:
“We have been overwhelmed by the positive response from MPs in support of World Hepatitis Day and over 40 Parliamentarians are coming to the testing event to support the day.
“The lack of awareness about viral hepatitis in the UK and abroad is causing huge numbers of preventable deaths. I hope that World Hepatitis Day will focus attention on these neglected diseases. Countless lives could be saved if more people get tested, diagnosed and then received the care, support and treatment they need.” ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. Please contact Jane Allen (jane.allen@hepctrust.org.uk or 07779 595609) to arrange radio, broadcast and print interviews with the following MPs who are involved in the testing event and available to interview:
Rt. Hon Hilary Armstrong MP, former Chief Whip and Social Exclusion Minister
Dr Brian Iddon MP, Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Hepatology Group
Please also contact Jane Allen to arrange an interview with Professor Mark Thursz, Consultant Hepatologist at St Mary’s hospital, London who will conduct the MP tests.
2. Some of the Parliamentarians that will be tested for hepatitis B and C are:
Rt. Hon Patricia Hewitt MP, former Secretary of State for Health
Rt. Hon Kevin Barron MP, Chair of the Health Select Committee
Rt. Hon Hilary Armstrong MP, former Chief Whip and Social Exclusion Minister
Dr Brian Iddon MP, Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Hepatology Group
3. A photo of the MPs being tested will be available on Monday 19 May. Please contact jane.allen@hepctrust.org.uk for a copy. Results of the tests will not be available and will be strictly confidential.
4. Other events for World Hepatitis Day – please see separate press releases or contact Raquel José, the Media Co-ordinator for The Hepatitis C Trust on 020 7089 6220 or raquel.jose@hepctrust.org.uk:
Local GPs are taking the testing message to their patients
Awareness raising drive in Victoria Station backed by a big poster of Anita Roddick
Global World Hepatitis International press conference in Geneva, Switzerland on 19 May coinciding with the World Health Assembly featuring the World Health Organisation
Pictures of the logo ‘aminumber12?’ being used across the world will be available on the 16May
5. More about Hepatitis C:
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that principally affects the liver
The main routes of transmission of hepatitis C are through blood transfusions before 1991, sharing drug equipment such as needles and snorting ‘straws’, tattoos in unhygienic parlours, mother to baby and medical and dental procedures abroad.
Liver damage occurs slowly over 20-30 years and can lead to liver scarring (fibrosis), cirrhosis and ultimately to liver cancer or liver failure and death
It can be symptom-less which has led hepatitis C to be termed ‘The Silent Epidemic’
There are estimated to be between 231,000 (Health Protection Agency) to 466,000 (University of Southampton research) infected with hepatitis C in England
Yearly deaths from hepatitis C have trebled in the last 10 years
There is no vaccine but treatment is available which can cure the disease in around half of patients
More details about hepatitis C can be found at www.hepctrust.org.uk
The Hepatitis C Trust’s helpline: 0845 223 4424
6. More about Hepatitis B:
Hepatitis B is transmitted by exposure (through broken skin or mucous membrane) to infected blood and other body fluids
In areas of the world where hepatitis B infection is highly endemic, the virus is mainly spread from mother to baby at birth or from person to person (via skin grazes etc) in early childhood
A safe and effective vaccination is available against hepatitis B infection. Eighty-five per cent of countries in the world have implemented universal hepatitis B vaccination but the UK operated selective vaccination of high-risk groups
More details about hepatitis B can be found at www.hepb.org.uk
