“It was life changing"

Ten fundraising activities to mark a decade

Man laughing. He is wearing a purple t-shirt that says Royal Free Charity

David Tasker, a Royal Free Charity volunteer ambassador, is taking on 10 challenges to raise money in memory of his dad, Andy, who died from amyloidosis 10 years ago.

Donations to the Royal Free Charity support the research, development and patients of the National Amyloidosis Centre at the Royal Free Hospital.

David has a close connection with the centre which provides specialist diagnostic and advisory services for all patients with amyloidosis in the UK.

He explained: “Going to look around the National Amyloidosis Centre was amazing. The effort that they are showing to push themselves to find, hopefully, some kind of cure in the future. And meeting Professor Gillmore – what an amazing man he is.

“He not only explained the journey of amyloid but he was the first person in 10 years to sit with me and go through my dad’s paperwork and give me and my family answers as to why everything happened. It was life changing.”

Amyloidosis is caused by a build up of abnormal protein fibres within the tissues and organs which can lead to life-threatening organ failure.

It causes the death of about one person in every thousand and there are about 6,000 cases in the UK at any time.

David is one of our volunteer ambassadors

I’ll continue to say to myself, if I feel like I can’t do it, is that the pain that I’m feeling is nothing compared to the pain my dad was feeling towards the end. So that’s what pushes me to finish every single one.

David is now one of our ambassadors.

Volunteer ambassadors are people who share our passion for helping our hospitals go further and faster for the people they care for.

David said: “To be asked if I would be an ambassador was just mind blowing and of course I said yes. My work will not stop in October when I cross that half marathon finish line.

“I will continue to help and support and do whatever I can as an ambassador for the Royal Free Charity whenever I can.”