45
PEOPLE
Reaching more people
with the diagnosis message
I
was diagnosed in June 2010 and
Coeliac UK really helped me at
the time. The Leeds Group was an
important support too so I wanted
to give something back. I joined the
Committee and then when the Group
Organiser left, I stepped in,” says
Kevin Stone.
In the last five years the Leeds
Voluntary Support Group has gone from
strength to strength and it’s been an
interesting road for Kevin. By his own
admission, being a bit of an introvert
made this role a strange fit but it has
really worked for him. “I found the role
daunting at first and probably made
some mistakes, but it’s going really well
now. Once you get into this you gain
from experience and it’s really helped
me gain in other aspects of my life and
helped my confidence.”
Kevin’s diagnosis spurred him on to
raise awareness of coeliac disease.
“I was getting pains in my legs so severe
I could hardly walk. I’ve not met anyone
else who’s been diagnosed through
joint pain and I explain this to people
who I meet when I’m supporting the
campaign,” says Kevin who, along with
the Leeds Group, joined Coeliac UK
for the Is it coeliac disease? diagnosis
campaign in Leeds City Centre during
the summer.
“
Kevin’s awareness stall with Committee Members Leila Conway, Wyn Tillotson and Sue Johnson
Kevin Stone at our Leeds pop up event
