Stoke-On-Trent nail technician holds 24-hour ‘Nailathon’ in memory of her dad who died from sepsis
Stoke-on-Trent nail technician Lucy Howlett will spend 24 hours painting nails in her garden studio as part of a unique fundraising challenge in aid of the UK Sepsis Trust.
The 28-year-old will welcome 23 clients between 9am on Saturday 13th September (World Sepsis Day) and 9am on Saturday 14th September – staying awake through the night fuelled by pyjamas, takeaways, and plenty of support from friends and family.
Lucy is taking on the challenge in memory of her beloved father, Alan Howlett, who sadly died last year after battling sepsis multiple times. Lucy has already raised over £300, and with raffle prizes donated by local businesses she hopes to raise even more vital funds and awareness during Sepsis Awareness Month.
In the UK, five people lose their lives to sepsis every hour. It is a life-threatening condition which arises when the body’s response to infection harms its own tissues and organs. It affects 245,000 people in the UK annually, claiming 48,000 lives. Sepsis can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and death if not recognised early and treated promptly.
Sepsis always starts with an infection, such as chest infections or UTIs, but it’s unknown why some people develop sepsis in response to these common infections whereas others do not.
Lucy said: “I’ve been wanting to do something amazing to raise money for such a wonderful charity in memory of my amazing dad who I sadly lost last year to sepsis after fighting it three previous times. As September is Sepsis Awareness Month, I am going to be taking part in my first 24-hour Nailathon to raise money and awareness for this deadly condition. My artistic side was passed down from my dad and I know he’ll think this is a completely wild idea, but he did create this little human being and shaped me to be exactly how I am today, and for that, I know he’ll love it.
“My clients have been so supportive and so have the local businesses donating raffle prizes to raise money in his honour and I’m beyond overwhelmed at the response.”
UKST has recently called attention to the many sepsis cases in which outcomes could have been improved or lives could have been saved. It’s more important than ever that members of the public feel empowered to act as advocates when their loved ones are unwell, and that healthcare professionals take them seriously
Sepsis is as common as heart attacks in the UK: nearly 80,000 people each year suffer life-changing after-effects in the UK, with 82% of sepsis survivors experiencing ‘Post-Sepsis Syndrome’ more than a year after hospital discharge, and 18% left permanently unable to work.
The UK Sepsis Trust (UKST), founded in 2012 by NHS consultant Dr Ron Daniels BEM, aims to end preventable deaths and improve outcomes for sepsis survivors, striving to raise public awareness and working to support anyone affected by this devastating condition. UKST educates healthcare professionals; raises public awareness levels and lobbies for political change. The charity’s team of trained Support Nurses help people through sepsis recovery and bereavement. UKST aims to protect people by enabling the prevention of severe infection and the treatment of sepsis, whilst also helping to ensure antibiotics are used responsibly.
