Clarke Willmott supports international charity in its drive for prestigious award

Clarke Willmott is joining double Olympic gold medalist Rebecca Adlington to support a charity which has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

Our Clinical Negligence team will cheer on the Encephalitis Society at the Charity Times Awards on Thursday, October 4, where it is in the running for Charity of the Year 2017 (income less than £1 million).

And in a sign of our continuing close relationship with the Encephalitis Society, Clarke Willmott is sponsoring its awards table at the Park Plaza Hotel, London, to ensure the charity’s staff and supporters can be on hand to enjoy the excitement.

Among the guests on the night will be Rebecca Adlington, the charity’s ambassador, The Lord Kennedy of Southwark and charity supporters and staff members, including Chief Executive Dr Ava Easton.

Marguarita Tyne, a partner in the team at Clarke Willmott, who will represent the firm at the awards, said: “I have become very familiar with the work of the Encephalitis Society over the past year and am delighted that we can help them go to the awards ceremony.

“I have seen at first hand the devastation that encephalitis can have on individuals and families and, at the same time, the excellent support they receive from the Society.

“Its nomination for Charity of the Year is richly deserved and demonstrates how a smaller charity can achieve global results and change the lives of people with brain inflammation, wherever in the world they are.”

The Encephalitis Society, which is based in Malton, North Yorkshire, is an international charity supporting people who have been affected by inflammation of the brain.

Clarke Willmott has continued to support the charity throughout the past year, joining it at a reception at the House of Lords and adding its voice to World Encephalitis Day on February 22, a campaign which reached over 50 million people across the globe.

Dr Ava Easton, Chief Executive of the Encephalitis Society, said: “It is a fantastic achievement for us to be nominated for Charity of the Year – even more so considering it is the second year in a row that we have been so honoured.

“This recognition is a reflection of the great work we are doing internationally in raising awareness of encephalitis, supporting and collaborating on research and being a lifeline to people directly and indirectly affected by the condition. We are grateful to Clarke Willmott for their belief in us.”

What is encephalitis?

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain and is caused either by an infection invading the brain (infectious); or through the immune system attacking the brain in error (post-infectious / autoimmune encephalitis).

The condition is indiscriminate, striking adults and children alike, showing no respect for age, gender, ethnic origin or culture. Mortality rates are high and in those who survive many are left with an acquired brain injury, the degree and severity of which will vary. Their difficulties may include cognitive, physical, emotional, behavioural, or psychosocial consequences.

What are the symptoms?

The types of symptoms seen in encephalitis reflect the specific areas of the brain affected by the inflammation. The range of symptoms and their rate of development vary widely and can make the diagnosis of encephalitis difficult.

Infectious encephalitis frequently begins with a ‘flu-like illness or headache. Typically more serious symptoms follow hours to days later. The most serious finding is an alteration in level of consciousness. This can range from mild confusion or drowsiness, to loss of consciousness, seizures and coma. Other symptoms include a high temperature, seizures (fits), aversion to bright lights, inability to speak or control movement, sensory changes, neck stiffness, or uncharacteristic behaviour.

In autoimmune types of encephalitis people can present with psychosis and hallucinations among other neurological presentations. Sometimes these patients can be mistakenly thought to be developing psychiatric or mental health illnesses.

If you have experienced difficulties in relation to medical treatment for encephalitis and wish to seek advice, please contact Chris Thorne.