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Charity Swansea West Wales

Kidney charity launches calendar competition in memory of mentor

SWANSEA-BASED kidney charity, the Paul Popham Fund, Renal Support Wales, are calling for entries for its first ever photographic charity calendar, which they are launching in memory of one of the charity’s valued and much-missed volunteer peer mentors, Brian Hill.

Brian, who sadly passed away in 2020, was an inspirational gentleman, who battled kidney disease for many years, and was an energetic supporter, fundraiser, and volunteer mentor at the Paul Popham Fund.

The charity first met Brian and his wife Val in 2018, and Brian quickly became an active member of its team; training to be a Paul Popham Fund peer mentor, supporting patients and their families, and often assisting Cardiff and Vale CKD Nurses to educate new patients on treatment options.

One of Brian’s most valuable and lasting contributions was his creation of a holiday dialysis folder to provide patients with comprehensive holiday dialysis information and advice. This resource has been shared with all dialysis units in Wales and throughout the UK.

Brian was also an avid photographer, who first suggested launching a charity calendar competition to raise funds for the Paul Popham Fund before the outbreak of Covid. The charity – along with the support of Brian’s family – are now launching the calendar competition in Brian’s memory, so is calling on all photographers – amateur and professional – to get clicking and submit their best images to the competition.

The theme for the calendar – chosen by Brian’s family – is ‘happiness’, and all of the money raised from sales will go towards supporting other patients with kidney disease, through the Paul Popham peer support service.

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The competition is open to everyone, and all 12 winners will receive a framed copy of their winning entry, with one overall winner taking the cover slot on the calendar and receiving a personal photoshoot with professional photographer, Lucy Parker, to the value of £300.

The Paul Popham Fund is also launching its annual design a Christmas card competition early this year. This is also open to everyone and can include any visual media you choose – drawing, painting, collage, or photography.

Entries to both competitions can be submitted via email to [email protected]. Alternatively, download an entry form from the Paul Popham Fund website and send entries via post to Unit 11, Tawe Business Village, Swansea Enterprise Park, Llansamlet, Swansea, SA7 9LA.

The closing date for all entries is Saturday 31, July. Judging will take place during the first week of August, with the winning entries selected by an expert panel led by professional photographer, Lucy Parker. The calendars are due to go on sale from the start of September.

Jo Popham, CEO of the Paul Popham Fund, said:

“We are very pleased to launch our first Charity Calendar, dedicated to the memory of Mr Brian Hill who sadly passed away last year. Brian was an inspirational gentleman, who was a keen supporter of others, and would often volunteer his time to support other patients by developing and sharing information.

“Brian was a cherished member of our Peer Support Team; therefore, our calendar project will be dedicated to him and his family. Money raised will go towards supporting other patients through the peer support service, which was so close to his heart.”

Darren Hill, Brian Hill’s son, said:

“Dad strongly believed in finding and focusing on something positive to keep him going during the good – and not so good – times. Being involved with the charity and helping others made him very happy, and he would have been very proud and uplifted to see some of his ideas being taken forward in the way that they have. Thank you to everyone involved, for all of your time and effort in making this possible and know that somewhere he is sitting and watching with a big smile on his face”. 

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