David is joint Area Co-ordinator for our Birmingham and West Midlands LSG
After a tortuous journey I finally was diagnosed with Empty SELLA Syndrome in 2002. However the one good thing was that my Consultant recommended I investigate the Pituitary Foundation web site which I did and in due course joined the Local Support Group (Birmingham and West Midlands) and went along to a number of meetings over the next few years including attending the Foundation’s Annual Conference in Birmingham.
In the summer of 2015 the Area Co-ordinator wished to stand down and Nigel Tinsley and I agreed to take on the role from the autumn of that year.
Since then it has been necessary to change our venue twice but for the last two years we have been extremely fortunate to be able to hold our quarterly meetings at the University Of Birmingham School which has excellent facilities. In addition we hold at least 2 social get-togethers at a local pub on a Saturday lunchtime.
Over the last five years we have seen our membership and attendance grow and all our members appreciate the opportunity to meet and chat informally before and after the Speaker over coffee and cake and I find this a very rewarding part of my role. In between meetings I endeavour to keep in touch with our members by email and ‘phone including regular reminders about future meetings. During the present situation, as our March and forthcoming June meetings have had to be cancelled, I am sending out a monthly newsletter to keep in touch,
It has been most enjoyable working alongside Nigel and my wife, Jacky, and I have spent many happy hours with him and his wife, Jenny, among other activities visiting possible venues for social occasions – commonly known as the “coffee crawl”.
Our members are my main incentive to continue volunteering and I value their friendship, support, encouragement and generosity,
I feel that volunteers are essential to all charitable organisations and as a Foundation volunteer I endeavour to support both the work of the Foundation and our members in whatever way I can