Big Yellow Friday

 

Friday 7th March 2025

Big Yellow Friday is a day to come together to raise awareness and funds for childhood liver disease. It’s so easy to join in – you can do anything you like as long as it’s yellow! Together, we can shine a light on childhood liver disease and help those who need it most.

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Each year in the UK, 400 children are diagnosed with liver disease. There is currently no cure for childhood liver disease – a diagnosis means a lifetime of medical care.

By joining in with #BigYellowFriday, you’ll be helping us make a difference to thousands of families, as you can see from the stories below.

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Who your Big Yellow Friday funding helps

Jemima's story

Jemima is mum to Halima who has biliary atresia and received a liver transplant as a baby.

Funds raised on Big Yellow Friday go towards our Children’s and Families’ service. Jemima, mum to Hali (pictured) explains what this means in practical terms:
“Kate (Children and Families Officer at Children’s Liver Disease Foundation) has supported me in various ways, from providing information for Hali’s school, helping me apply for benefits, or just listening to me. Sometimes it’s a phone or a video call but even if I just email her with a question, I know she’ll come back to me. All of this has had a huge impact on how I cope with Hali’s condition. I have a better understanding of how to care for her, support my other children and also to give myself some grace as well.”

Lindsay's story

Lindsay Hogg, Principal Specialist Nurse at Birmingham Children's Hospital's explains how our Children and Families team complement the work of the liver unit staff.

As well as working directly with families, our Children and Families Team work closely with the staff at the paediatric liver units which provide children and young people with specialist care. Lindsay Hogg, Principal Specialist Nurse at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Liver Unit, explains how this works.
CLDF do vital work for our families, they are there for the difficult moments when families and young people are given life changing information. They provide support to parents, carers, children, and young people, both while they are in-patients, and when at home trying to “get on” with “normal” life. They are an active listening service for the families and young people, signposting as required to whatever support they need. They work with families at the crucial and important times in their lives, providing information for schools and for all important holidays! They provide information that gives families confidence to do nice things and make special memories.

The charity provides dedicated support for young people and their parents which can be critical for some families to cope with the emotional worries that go hand in hand with having a child with a chronic illness.

The opportunities to meet with other families, both virtually and in person is priceless. Families benefit from the networking and peer support that CLDF provides and make therapeutic relationships with other families to help them along the often difficult and unique journeys that they face.

The written information that CLDF has produced has helped families understand their child diagnosis and treatment plans, enabling them to feel part of the team looking after their child, empowering them with information.

We witness daily the impact and work that CLDF carry out with parents, carers, children and young people. The big things are obviously important – such as grants to enable research to drive the care of these very special children and young people in the future. But sometimes it’s the little things – a listening ear, someone to talk to and just be there which make a massive impact.

Mirri's story

Mirri, 15, was shocked to be diagnosed with autoimmune liver disease last year

Funds raised on Big Yellow Friday enable us to support young people like Mirri.
“In May 2023, I was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), which came as a shock to me and my family. One of my biggest challenges was managing symptoms during the summer, especially on a school trip. Although I couldn’t do everything I used to, like rock climbing, I realised I could still be independent and enjoy life with patience and time. The Support from CLDF and my school have been invaluable. Joining CLDF’s Hive Hangout also helped me feel less alone. Now, with normal blood tests, I feel more confident and am grateful to my family, friends, and CLDF for their support.”

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    Now here’s how you can help!

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