The Nottingham Event

I had planned to write about the event in glowing terms, highlighting its success and how enjoyable it was.

I still hope to do this, but enthusiasm must be tempered by events in London.

Usually, this awful event would have felt distant, like something happening to other people. Yesterday was different. There were several London-based people around, involved in the Nottingham event, and as the story slowly unfolded, their concerns became evident, for friends and colleagues, and for those places which were so familiar. I hope that neither they, nor any of my other friends and acquaintances in the capital have experienced loss or suffering as a result of the terrorist activity. It is fair to say that the thoughts of everyone at the exhibition were in London.

However, the Nottingham event proceeded and it was wonderful to have had some involvement with it.

Yesterday morning was frantic - East Midlands and Central TV were there, filming and interviewing, as were Radio Nottingham and Trent FM. Other photographers from local press arrived, and the whole morning was quite a blur. Interviews took place with Dr. Stephen Ryder from the Queens Medical Centre, Liana (whose photograph is also part of the exhibition) and my partner, Vicki. I was delighted by this. Partners and families are so often overlooked. I was unable to see the interview, and hopefully will catch it later on Central News.

Inevitably, news coverage focused on London, but there was an excellent piece on BBC East Midlands Today, and in the Nottingham Evening Post. Hopefully, Central news and the radio stations will broadcast their reports today. There was also the article in The Sun yesterday, which was very pleasing and reported facts clearly and effectively.

The exhibition itself looked fantastic, set against the backdrop of the City Hall, right next to the tram stops, and clearly visible from streets off the square. Many members of the public stopped and looked and spoke to those involved. It was also pleasing to see a presence from the Department of Health. Sometimes, it's easy to feel very detached from policy makers, and it is good to know that there will be direct feedback to our political masters. There have been many comments of the 'too little, too late' type (with which I agree), but it's a hell of a lot better than 'nothing, never'.

My favourite part of these events is the chance to meet and network with others. It was wondeful to meet Liana, and we have already mooted the idea of setting up some kind of informal support network to operate in this area - for sufferers and partners. It was great to make contact with Duncan from Mainliners, and we enjoyed a long chat, which I hope may bear fruit in the future.

It was also wonderful to see Michele again, and to be able to talk with those running the FaCe It campaign.

I also made contact today with a representative of Infolinks, part of the local drugs advisory service.

Finally, just as I was about to leave, another Hep C sufferer came over and had a chat, commenting that she was delighted that awareness is being raised, and talking about the lack of support available. She also praised the work of the nurses and the support she has received from her particular nurse. It was lovely to meet her, and hopefully, the support issue may be addressed to some extent in the near future.

It was a well organised, and I hope successful event, in terms of raising public awareness and increasing regional media coverage.

Unfortunately, the first day left me feeling terrible. I was so tired and started with stomach problems, so my attendance today was brief, and I was not really 'all there'. Vicki tells me that last night I 'drifted in and out of consciousness'. I was certainly not well. Now, however, I am feeling more human. Still tired, but less of a zombie. I was genuinely worried that these symptoms could spiral to the level they have in the past. After my weight loss last year, stomach problems worry me when they start. Hopefully a couple of days rest and I shall be fine.

Finally, just to thank all those at Munro-Forster for their organisation of, and commitment to, the exhibition. Without their work, nothing would be happening - and even if the agendas to which they have to work may sometimes vary from those which some of us would like - the need for awareness and improved treatment of Hep C sufferers can only benefit through the initiatives taking place.

In conclusion, this event seems to have been very successful. However, any memories of it will be tainted by the terrible events happening just a few miles away, which will become a part of history.