Sepsis charity supporter calls on locals to help stop sepsis now

Mike Mahoney

A local Sepsis Research FEAT supporter from Rochdale is asking others to join him in raising funds for the fight against sepsis.

Sepsis takes the lives of approximately five people every hour in the UK. It occurs when the body’s response to an infection spirals rapidly out of control, injuring its own tissues and organs which can result in multiple organ failure and death.

Mike Mahoney from Rochdale is taking part in the Kilt Walk in Edinburgh this year to fundraise for Sepsis Research FEAT. He has previously shared his own sepsis story to raise awareness of this devastating condition after almost losing his life to sepsis at Christmas in 2018. He survived respiratory failure, pneumonia, kidney failure, repeated heart attacks and being in a coma for almost four weeks due to sepsis and is still receiving ongoing care.

Mike said: "I'd urge people to support Sepsis Research FEAT as it is the only charity in the UK raising funds for research into this terrifying and potentially deadly illness to find new treatments which will defeat it more quickly and effectively.”

Sepsis Research FEAT is the only UK charity dedicated to supporting research to help identify treatments for sepsis, while also working to raise awareness of this devastating condition. The charity is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2023 and is launching a new fundraising campaign called Give Us 10! which will last 10 months. This follows the success of its Give us 5! campaign during Sepsis Awareness Month last year.

If you would like to get involved in Give Us 10! but are stuck for fundraising ideas, this monthly programme of 10th-anniversary themed challenges has something to suit everyone. Fundraising challenges include:

• 10 hours of your favourite sport or activity
• a 10 hour movie marathon with friends
• wild swimming in 10 different locations
• giving up something for 10 weeks
• teaming up with 10 friends or colleagues to organise a bakesale
• cycling 10 miles
• a team of 10 doing an activity or sport together
• running or walking 10K
• a sponsored silence for 10 hours
• a group of 10 going Christmas caroling

Colin Graham, Chief Operating Officer at Sepsis Research FEAT, said: “A huge thank you to Mike for so generously raising money to help Sepsis Research FEAT’s work. Fundraising activities like this play a vital role in the fight against sepsis. As Sepsis Research FEAT marks its 10th anniversary this year, we’re asking you to consider joining Mike in being part of our birthday celebrations and raising money to support an important cause.

“Our Give Us 10! campaign offers a range of fundraising activity suggestions for individuals and groups to take part in. Whether you want to try your hand at each of our monthly themes or just stick to the one, we have a whole host of fundraising challenges for you to get involved in. We would be very grateful for whatever support you can give to help us continue our work raising awareness of sepsis and funding ground-breaking research.”

Sepsis Research FEAT was founded in 2013 by Craig Stobo in memory of his wife, Dr Fiona Agnew, and their unborn daughter, Isla, who died from sepsis in 2012. Since then it has gained supporters across the UK and funded pioneering research including the GenOMICC study which is investigating the role genes play in determining patients’ outcomes from sepsis.

To find out more and get involved with the Give Us 10! campaign, visit sepsisresearch.org.uk/10th-anniversary/#give-us-ten