Family’s iron will to help
battle curse of the Irish
 By
Brendan Farrell
IT’S the curse of the Irish — but hardly anyone knows.The
illness haemochromatosis might sound an almost unpronounceable medical
condition but the genetic disorder can cause great suffering and distress
to the individual and their families.
It affects one in 300 people in Britain — but a worrying one in
83 in Ireland.
Figures show Ireland has the highest rate per head in the world —
but both here and over the Irish Sea very little is being done at present
to fund more research into the problem.
Haemochromatosis involves too much iron being created in the body —
and if not treated in time it can cause the iron to be deposited in the
body’s organs leading to irreparable damage.
Symptoms can include chronic fatigue, stomach and joint pains and arthritis.
But now thanks to the Birmingham-based Cleary family and their friends’
awareness of the condition will be highlighted amongst the Irish community.
Earlier this year 25-year-old Thomas Cleary suffered haemochromatosis-like
symptoms which although not yet fully confirmed may indicate that this
is the particular problem causing his illness.
The diagnosis led to his sister Maria Cleary — a primary school
teacher and organiser of the Midlands Rose of Tralee events with friend
Teresa Melody — deciding to boost awareness of the illness.
They used the Midlands Rose Ball in Solihull in June of this year to
both publicise the condition and also get some badly-needed funds for
the Hertfordshire-based Haemochromatosis Society.
The society has some 1,000 members and was set-up up by the late Guy Fernau
— who sadly died in 1991 having battled the symptoms for many years.
His work has now been taken on by his widow Janet and her daughter Sarah
and the pair retain strong links with their sister organisation in Dublin.
The work has been boosted by Maria and Thomas’ fundraising efforts
— the latest being the presentation of a cheque for £1,500
raised during the Midlands Rose Ball.
To learn more about haemochromatosis log on to www.ghsoc.org.
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