Page 15 - link magazine

Community News

Swindon medic inspired to improve nutrition for the critically ill
following California visit on Winston Churchill travelling scholarship

Zoe Barber, an NHS surgical based at Great Western Hospital every week to the terminally ill in
registrar, has returned from the to investigate how it can be Los Angeles County. They prepare
West Coast after spending two implemented here. meals tailored to particular medical
months studying the impact of Zoe, from Royal Wootton Bassett, requirements, such as renal failure
Project AngelFood, which delivers explained: “Project AngelFood is a or diabetes in a customised 8,000
nutritious meals to the critically ill non-profit organisation based in Los square foot kitchen.
in Los Angeles. Angeles which began in 1989, in “I applied for the fellowship
The trip was made possible response to the HIV/AIDS explosion. because, while I am able to make
after Zoe applied for a Winston It started with a small group of a difference to a small number
Churchill Memorial Trust travelling volunteers making meals to deliver of people on a daily basis in the
fellowship. On the back of the to people too ill to leave their operating theatre, I wanted the
opportunity to discover more about homes or to purchase ingredients opportunity to make a difference
a project without a comparison in to cook their own meals. Now there in the longer term. Some patients
Britain, she has taken a12 month are 38 permanent members of staff go home from hospital with limited
sabbatical from surgical training providing 10,000 frozen meals support. The basic tasks such as
shopping and cooking can be really
difficult after a major operation. Zoe, above and left at
“The staff and volunteers at Project Project AngelFood
AngelFood were so positive about
the help they provide to their 2,000 life. Businesses donate their
clients and they couldn’t have employees for a day or longer a
been more helpful with the mass month to volunteer, schoolchildren
of questions I had. I was able to are expected to volunteer to gain
visit some of the clients with one the required credits to graduate (and
of the delivery drivers. For many, colleges look very favourably on
their weekly delivery was their only volunteering). For a country with an
contact with another human being.” outwardly materialistic reputation,
Even though Project AngelFood its enthusiasm about volunteering
is a response to very difficult was really heartening.
circumstances, Zoe found the can- “There is definitely a need for a
do American outlook shone through similar project in the UK, and seeing
and she was impressed by the the impact of Project AngelFood in
commitment to volunteering. America, it has made me even more
Thanks for the old instruments “The LA ‘yes we can’ attitude is so determined to set up something

Following the visit by different to the usual UK sarcasm similar here and that’s my task over
the next few months.”
and cynicism. I was worried that
renowned classical I’d find the permanent optimism www.angelfood.org
composer and irritating or fake but I found it really
conductor Luis Szaran inspiring. Everyone I met smiled and
from Paraguay in chatted; when I told them about my Quiz teams wanted
July 2015, when he charity plans, they congratulated Three friends who are planning to
renewed his appeal me on the idea and offered me their climb Africa’s highest mountain in
for old musical business cards in case I needed any August are recruiting teams for a
instruments to help or anywhere to stay in LA - the quiz on 12 March.
help young people generosity and kindness of complete Ian Lawrence, Dan Hopkins
in his country to strangers was truly humbling and, and Becky Prince are raising
join community perhaps, the biggest lesson I’ve money and awareness of Retinitis
orchestras, he has Luis Szaran with John and Matt Holland brought home with me. Pigmentosa, a genetically inherited
welcomed donations “The US health and social care disease - which currently has no
which were delivered in November. instrument. Music is in our soul and system is great for two groups of known cure or treatment.
John Holland from Purton and we use it to bring people together. people - those wealthy enough to Daniel suffers from RP which
his brother Matt, from Shaw, “You would be amazed what pay for private insurance, and the has destroyed the parts of his
delivered the collection to Sonidos people living in the poorest poor who qualify for Medicare. The eyes which give peripheral vision,
de la Tierra (Sound of the Earth) situations, in slums or on dumps, huge group in the middle of ‘normal’ leaving him with deteriorating
for distribution to music making can achieve, making and playing people who don’t earn enough to tunnel eyesight. It’s the most
projects around the country. instruments made from recovered pay for insurance but earn too much common form of inherited
In between touring the world pipes and bottle tops.” to qualify for State care are under blindness in the world and
to conduct top orchestras, Luis John Holland commented: “Luis huge pressure because of the cost next year will be the fortieth
is the inspiration behind the and Sonidos de La Tierra are always of health or social care. It made me anniversary since the charity RP
grassroots music making project for so welcoming and appreciative realise how lucky we are to have, Fighting Blindness was founded.
disadvantaged children and young of the cultural bridge between and how proud we should be, of the Contact [email protected]
people in neghbourhoods across the Swindon and Paraguay. NHS. It certainly has its limitations to take part in the quiz night,
country. “They send their warm thanks for but it is such a wonderful institution which includes waitress service
Speaking through an interpreter all the instruments that we were in being free to all at the point of and licenced bar, at Wanborough
to Swindon Link last July, he able to deliver.” access. We are so privileged to have Village Hall.
said: “Sonidos de la Tierra is also Collections carry on throughout it - we should protect and cherish it. Help the team at:
about community life; we help the year. Contact John on 07771 “On the other side of things, www.justgiving.com/IRLawrence
young people gain a skill and build 615663 to discuss making a Americans are brilliant at www.rpfightingblindness.org.uk
confidence through playing an donation. volunteering - it is part of normal
swindonlink.com n February 2016 15