Masonic donation funds staff member at Bournemouth-based British Liver Trust

Thanks to a donation of £41,000 from the Freemasons, registered nurse Rebecca West is now the liver and health advisor at the Bournemouth-based British Liver Trust.

She manages the helpline, administers the online forum, answers email enquiries and uses her vast knowledge to help patients, carers, those affected and sometimes even other healthcare professionals.

Geoff Tuck, assistant provincial grand master of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Freemasons said, “The British Liver Trust is an important national charity based in Bournemouth, which although in the county of Dorset is a town that is within the Masonic Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

“Through the Masonic Charitable Foundation we were able to secure money to fund the new position for a year.

“I had a tour of the charity and learned about the amazing work it does for people across the country.”

The British Liver Trust supports people with all kinds of liver disease, improves the knowledge and understanding of liver disease, encourages and helps fund research into new treatments and lobbies for better services.

Andrew Langford, the charity’s chief executive, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the donation.

“Having Rebecca as our new liver and health advisor makes a huge difference and we are able to assist many more patients and health professionals.

“We rely on donations to fund the work we do and we reach over a million people a year.

“Over 90% of liver disease is preventable, but diagnosis comes late as symptoms are hard to diagnose; there is a lack of awareness among the public and the medical profession and we want to change that.

“If anyone is worried about their liver health they can start by completing our liver health questionnaire – www.loveyourliver.org.uk – which will assess any risks and provide useful information to act on or discuss with your GP.”

Liver disease is the fifth largest killer in the UK and the liver is the largest solid organ in the body, weighing some 1.8kg in men and 1.3kg in women and for an adult is the size of a rugby ball.

It holds approximately 13% (about one pint or 0.57 litres) of a person’s total blood supply at any given time and has over 500 functions including detoxification, blood clotting, hormonal balance, storing glycogen, fighting infection etc. Like the heart and lungs it is vital to life.