L.I.B.R.A
Blood. A common and essential ingredient for all human beings which carries nutrition and oxygen to all parts of the body, fights infections, constantly renews itself and carries waste away.
Children and adults are daily diagnosed as suffering from a blood condition. The statement 'There is something wrong with your blood', made by a doctor to a patient can be frightening. Often the problem is a simple iron or vitamin deficiency which is easily treatable.
Nevertheless, there are certain conditions of the blood which are serious and despite treatment are fatal.
At the forefront of scientific advancement in haematological clinical research has been Kings College School of Medicine, which following its many successes of recent years offers hope for the future.
In 1976 the haemotological department of King's College Hospital, London was in a perilous state. Equipment was outdated, inefficient, in many instances dangerous and the accommodation inadequate.
This situation was brought to the notice of members of Lions Club International and after consultation it was agreed that a very worthwhile project existed in supporting the department.
The project was adopted in February 1977, almost immediatly money had to be found to pay for essential equipment that had been ordered by the department. The manufacturers demanded £10,000 within 7 days. Without this money part of the department would have closed. This was paid by LIBRA from donations already received. The balance of £120,000 also had to be paid and the trustees arranged and guaranteed a loan for this amount. The loan was paid from fund raising and the interest paid by the medical school.
Without doubt, the department would have closed if LIBRA had not had faith in the project.
LIBRA emphasised work on three conditions, haemophilia, leukaemia and sickle cell disease. These three diseaes cover the three constituent parts of blood and also provided spin off's for other diseases and eventually into other aspects. The area around KIngs College Hospital has the biggest population of sufferers and carriers of sickle cell disease in Europe and the centre was and still is, ideally situated to be one of the premier clinical research establishements for this disease.
The work of the laboratory has been recognised internationally as one of the worlds leading clinical research establishments in its field.
LIBRA still continues to support the department with contributions coming from Lions clubs and legacies that have been left to LIBRA. Because of the facilities now available, the expertise which exists, many grants have been made available to the hospital for research purposes. Whilst this is difficult to quantify no doubt exists that LIBRA provided the seed which has been worth millions of pounds.
