We need to do this in the USA

This article came from


Samantha May

Head of Patient Support Services



The Hepatitis C Trust

27 Crosby Row,

London SE1 3YD

Telephone: 020 7089 6220

Fax: 020 7089 6201



Helpline: 0845 223 4424

(from 10.30 - 16.30pm Monday to Friday, all calls are confidential)

Web: www.hepctrust.org.uk

Singer Boy George and model Sadie Frost are
among a host of stars who will appear at a
party to launch the Hepatitis C Trust’s Get
Tested! 2010 campaign on November 26.
The Trust is aiming to raise £200,000 to pay for
a bus to tour the country with a nurse to test
people who may have contracted the virus. It will
work as a mobile clinic, regularly touring the
country to help the Get Tested! campaign. The
Trust are collaborating with two DJs known as
Cover To Cover to run the launch event at The
Paradise in West London.
The launch is aiming to promote the Get Tested
2010! Mission, which involves groups of
youngsters being sponsored to travel from the
UK to Ibiza in May to coincide with Radio 1 DJ
Pete Tong’s International Music Summit. They
will travel in unusual vehicles such as Silver
Bullet caravans, completing a series of secret
challenges along the way.
The Hepatitis C Trust spokesperson Gemma
Peppe said: “If you think you’ve done anything
to put yourself at risk, then you should
definitely get yourself tested. This could be
sharing a toothbrush, having medical
treatment abroad, having a tattoo or piercing,
or sharing notes or needles to take drugs.
Studies have estimated that there are around
500,000 people in the UK walking around with
hepatitis C, and only 10% have been
diagnosed. That’s why it’s so important to get
yourself tested. One reason that there are so
many undiagnosed is that there is a real lack
of awareness surrounding hepatitis C. Another
is that often it is symptomless. And a lot of the
possible symptoms are very woolly. For
example, a lot of people feel tired all the time,
especially when they are getting older. So they
have no idea that they may be suffering from
hepatitis C.”
Sadie Frost said: “I love performing and if you
can possibly raise some extra awareness for
such a good cause at the same time - it sounds
like a great double act “
Eliza Doolittle, who will also be performing,
said: “It’s so important for people to know
whether they are healthy or not, so if worst
comes to worst they can diagnose their illness
and work on feeling better and living a happy,
worry free life.”
Cover to Cover is the brainchild of Sean Rowley
and Christian Laing, two DJs who play to crowds
of thousands on a regular basis.
Together they have organised a wide range of
artists who will perform their favourite covers.
Upstairs the likes of Boy George, Sadie Frost
and singer David McAlmont will perform covers
of their favourite songs backed by a live band.
Downstairs DJs such as Sean Rowley, Christian
Laing and Ed Simons from The Chemical
Brothers will be playing their favourite cover
records.