There are children in our Province whose skin is as fragile as a butterfly’s wing, so that they are known as The Butterfly Children. An incurable genetic disease called epidermolysis bullosa (or ‘eb’ for short) is responsible for the condition, which is marked by constant pain and disfiguring blisters caused by the slightest of pressure to the paper thin skin.

Sufferers spend their lives wrapped in bandages to prevent infection from the blistering, and are usually restricted to wheelchairs. There is a support group for ‘eb’ sufferers and their families which is known as DebRA, which strives towards a life free of pain for these poor children. DebRA was named after the daughter of Phyllis Hilton who founded the charity in 1978.

The Duke of Kent Lodge No.5818 which meets at Maidstone held a white table supper, at which the outgoing Master, WBro Trevor Pankhurst and his wife Jean, presented a cheque for £2,500
to DebRA’s fundraising manager Mrs Laura Prate. Awareness of ‘eb’ reached Trevor and Jean through their daughter's friend Lauren who suffers from the disease. The members of the Lodge were therefore delighted to welcome Lauren as their very special Guest of Honour at the dinner, accompanied by her mother Julie.

A further £2,500 was presented on the same evening to Cheryl Armitage representing Asthma UK, the well known charity working towards a better life for asthma sufferers.

For full information regarding the two charities please visit www.debra.org.uk and www.asthma.org.uk

WBro Donald Sisley Almoner
Duke of Kent Lodge No.5818

From Ed44, P6