Speaker Evening

Thu, Sep 5th 2019 at 6:45 pm - 8:45 pm

Speaker - Phil Godfrey from APS Support UK.
Raffle - Sybille Handley-Schachler
Reception - Grainger Falconer / Colin Riddell


APS was the theme of the talk at the Rotary Club of South Queensferry on Thursday 5th September. Solihull Rotary Club member Phil Godfrey is travelling round the country raising awareness and funds for Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS). Phil's wife, Christine, suffered symptoms which led her to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but this was a misdiagnosis. It took ten years till a specialist properly diagnosed APS. Christine died shortly afterwards and Phil vowed to help spread awareness of APS among the public and medical professionals. He originally planned to walk the length of the UK, but a knee injury cut this short. However, as a retired railwayman, Phil was able to travel the country with an all stations pass. So far he has travelled more than 30,000 miles and spoken to over 100 Rotary Clubs.

Discovered in the 1970s in the West Indies, APS, sometimes known as sticky blood, is an autoimmune disease which causes blood to clot too quickly both in veins and arteries. Considerably more women than men are affected. APS can lead to thrombosis, blood clots, strokes and heart attacks. It is also the most important treatable cause of recurrent miscarriage and is associated with other complications in pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia, premature birth, small babies and still birth. APS is significantly under-recognised. On average it takes a person three years to be diagnosed. Despite being potentially life threatening,  the general outlook for most APS patients is good. If diagnosed as early as possible and treated correctly, the majority of patients can lead a relatively normal life provided they continue  with their medication. In proposing the vote of thanks, Colin Riddell said Phil had demonstrated great knowledge and passion for this important subject and wished him well on his travels spreading awareness of APS. To find out more about APS, visit

www.aps-support.org.uk

In other business, David Buchanan said he had spent a most enjoyable time at a reunion of former Assistant District Governors held by honorary member Gordon McInally. The event had included a visit to Kelso Rugby Club and a distillery.  Gordon and his wife Heather, President of Kelso Rotary Club, sent their best wishes.