Lunch time meeting - ZOOM Meeting our speaker this week is Phil Godfrey Rotary Solihull speaking about his round Britain APS Charity event

On Thursday 24^th September 2020 in the absence of President Geoff Sampson SVP Brian Johnson took the chair as he welcomed 9 Club Rotarians and guest speaker Rotarian Phil Godfrey to this lunch time meeting held by ZOOM.

Four Rotarians apologised for non-attendance.

Our speaker this week was Rotarian Phil Godfrey from the Solihull Club who gave a highly informative talk on APS or to use its proper name, Antiphospholipid Syndrome. This is an auto immune disease which is often not identified by GP’s. As it is a blood disease it can affect any part of the body and patients can present with a variety of symptoms which may also occur in other conditions. It causes the blood to clot too quickly and can be life threatening giving rise to strokes, heart attacks, dvt’s , embolisms and so on. It effects women more than men and Is the most significant cause of miscarriages and still births. However, if diagnosed early enough it can be successfully treated.

Bill’s interest in the condition derives from the awful experiences of both his wife and daughter. This led him in 2017 to plan a fundraising walk from the Scilly islands to Lands’ End to assist with much needed research. Unfortunately, personal health problems prevented him from completing the walk so since then he has been touring round the country by bus, train, ferry and so on and has thus far spoken to 214 Clubs and travelled 42,000 miles. Approximately £155,000 has so far been raised, some of which has funded the development of an APS learning module for GP’s which will hopefully lead to early diagnosis and treatment.

The Rotary vote of thanks was given by Jim Boyd.

This coming week Thursday 1^st October 2020 at 1pm on ZOOM we will be given a talk by District 1010 Governor, Rotarian Alistair Robb a friend of the club from the Buckhaven and Methil club who will be speaking about the structure of Rotary. During the meeting President Geoff Sampson will have the pleasure of Inducting new members David and Beverley Cooper who are involved with the Friends of Riverside Park into Rotary

The Rotary vote of thanks will be given by President Geoff Sampson.

If you were interested in supporting the community and international projects get in touch by Private message on The Rotary Club of Glenrothes Facebook page. You will be made most welcome[GS1] .