L-R: Catherine, Beth
In our Spring 2025 newsletter, Beth announced her intention to step down as our National Coordinator. After a successful application and interview process, Catherine was appointed by our Trustees and worked alongside Beth for a month long handover throughout July to help ensure a smooth transition into the role. A message from her follows:
Hello to you,
I may have met some of you at previous Family Support Meetings. I lost my mother, Alison, to sporadic CJD in 2019. I utilised the CJDSN phone support line during that time, and have stayed in touch with the Network since then. I attended my first family support day after COVID restrictions ended. With a background in charity management and project leadership, and before that in both education and law, I am committed to the Network’s aims of being a source of accurate and up to date information, and providing emotional and practical support to those affected by all forms of CJD, and those at increased risk.
I’m so proud to be given the opportunity to build on Beth’s efforts as Coordinator to ensure that the CJD Support Network is able to support and connect those affected by CJD. If anyone has ideas on how we can best keep doing so, whether it be by fundraising for the Network, or by sharing thoughts on any aspect of our work, I would be delighted to hear from you on the phone line or email below. I would like to thank Beth for her hard work in a multitude of areas including supporting those affected by CJD, liaising with other groups and clinical professionals across the world, organising events such as the annual Family Support Day, and ensuring the Network is fit for 2025 and beyond. Beth wanted me to share the following message:
“It has been an absolute pleasure working alongside Catherine over the last month. I know that she will do a fantastic job of taking the network forward and supporting our community. From my own experience I know that the community will, in turn, support her in the role. I’d like to say another huge thank you to all who have supported me – our governing body and members of the wider community who are too many to name (but I think you know who you are!). I look forward to attending the Family Support Meeting in September to connect with old friends and meet new attendees.”
The CJD Support Network office and Helpline will be open 8.30am – 3.30pm on Tuesdays, and 11am – 6pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, on the same number of 0800 774 7317. As always, any messages received outside of these hours will be followed up as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can email [email protected]. Administrative and general enquiries can be directed to admin@cjdsupport.co.uk.
