In 2002 the National Kidney Federation’s Young Persons Group was set up in response to a letter from Sara Tyler, a newly diagnosed kidney patient from Somerset. As a young person, the shock and change of life that kidney failure caused made her feel isolated and alone.
Determined to overcome this, she enquired of the NKF if a National Young Person’s group could be formed for young kidney patients, and if not, would anyone be interested in forming one with her.
An initial response of 14 people enabled Sara to set up the YPG a small postal group. These first few people who responded allowed concrete proof that something was needed and the National Kidney Federation responded by agreeing that a Young Person’s Group could become an affiliated member of them. This group was then officially launched at the NKF’s annual conference in 2002 and was named National Kidney Federation’s Young Person’s Group or NKF-YPG for short. The founding committee was just 3 with Sara as the chairperson and Michelle Peterson and Jim Warham as Co-Vice chairs.
These first few responses to Sara proved that the fundamental point of the group that it should be a ‘contact point for all young patients. It should be a place where they can get support & share information and experiences’ was something that many young renal patients were in agreement with and today the group is being used and appreciated by over 100 members nationwide.
The YPG produced its first newsletter at the end of 2002 and has achieved many things since: There is an annual get together at the NKF’s conference, part of the NKF’s Website is dedicated to the YPG and wider links with hospitals have been formed. One such link has enabled us to reproduce some leaflets specifically designed for Paediatric patients on a variety of topics and these can be found online.
Sadly Sara passed away in November 2004 but she leaves behind an amazing legacy in YPG and that essential ethos that being a young patient need not be something you suffer alone is carried on to new and existing members so they can enjoy the benefits of YPG to the full.
The YPG continues to be run along these fundamental ideas that Sara set down and although it will necessarily evolve and grow, as new members join, we are determined that these foundation blocks YPG have been built on will never be lost.
We hope that the YPG pages will help answer any questions you may have regarding the group.
However, if you have any further queries, or just want to get in touch, please contact us. We would love to hear from you.
Page created: 14 January 2005
Last updated: 30 April 2008
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