Nicola Dench vows to support Dorset Kidney Fund (From Dorset Echo)
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Nicola Dench vows to support Dorset Kidney Fund
11:30am Sunday 12th February 2012 in Local News By Harry Hogger
Harbour Swim fundraisers for the Dorset Kidney Fund. From left, Laura Dench, Kimberley Dench, Esther Sharkey-Yun and Nicola Dench
A WOMAN suffering from a kidney condition has vowed to do all she can to help fellow patients.
Nicola Dench, from Weymouth, already made a splash for the Dorset Kidney Fund when she took the plunge at the Christmas Day Harbour Swim in Weymouth to raise £1,805 for the charity.
She has now said she wants to become a member of the fund and wants to help raise money for it in the future.
Nicola was diagnosed with a kidney condition at the age of 12 and regularly receives treatment at the renal unit at Dorset County Hospital.
She said she was keen to raise money for the Dorset Kidney Fund and the work they do supporting patients at the unit.
The 30-year-old research assistant at Dorset County Council said: “I’ve got kidney problems of my own and I wanted to raise money for them because I knew they were a local charity that does a lot for local people.
“The Harbour Swim was really just something I thought about and randomly texted my family and friends to see if they were up for it and they said yes.
“Everyone did us really proud.
“It was amazing because we started off setting a £500 target and we exceeded that way beyond what I thought we would.”
Nicola, who has had to travel up to Bristol for a medical appointment, said the Dorset Kidney Fund helps patients with practical things like fuel costs and can offer crucial support for renal patients.
Nicola, whose family has been involved with the Dorset Kidney Fund for 18 years, said: “I think the nature of these local charities is that the people that are involved tend to be people that are suffering themselves and some of them are quite ill.
“I’m really keen to get involved and help as much as I can.
“Kidney disease tends to affect a lot of older people, it’s quite unusual that it affects younger people and I have got a bit of young blood so hopefully that can help.”
Nicola is not on the waiting list for a new kidney but says she may be in the future and would urge others to sign up for the Organ Donor Register.
She said: “It is tragic when someone dies but one person dying can save eight people. If there is anything positive that can come out of something as tragic as that then it is they can go on to help save lives.”
