Representatives from Swansea-based charity The Paul Popham Fund, Renal Support Wales, have been congratulated for their hard work at meetings with Assembly Members (AMs) and MPs at The Senedd.

The charity 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.

It visits The Senedd every year to raise awareness of its work and of renal patients’ needs.

Topics discussed during this year’s visit include the work of the charity, kidney disease, Organ Donation Week, which will take place September 2-8, World Kidney Day on March 14, 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, says she was delighted with the welcome the charity received.

Our annual visit to The Senedd is a very important date in our calendar.

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 that the AMs and MPs were so interested 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 bring us closer to achieving our aim.

The charity raises money by organising events that reflect Paul’s ethos and that he would have been proud of. It also raises money by encouraging others to organise their own events and support the charity in any way they can. http://paulpophamfund.co.uk.

Picture: Paul Popham Fund