Hi there,

as some of you might know, hepatitus C has been a close issue for me and my family for many years now. My mum was diagnosed with it in 2003 and - although it is now at undetectable levels in her blood - it has been a battle ever since to get her well again.

in 2006 she did a campaign with the Hep C trust, to raise awareness of the disease. I really do think that this helped her alot in her recovery, as she wasnt focusing on how the illness was effecting her as much, but instead how it was affecting the nation. Read more here: http://www.hepctrust.org.uk/News_Resources/news/2006/09-september/raising-awareness-of-hepatitis

This is my way of taking it full circle, and saying thankyou to the Hep C trust for all the brilliant work that they do every day to raise awareness and provide advice and help to sufferers. 

* Almost 600 million people around the world are infected with either Hepatitis B or C.
* Hepatitis C is a virus which can damage the liver. Most people who have it have no signs or symptoms at all for many years.
* Hepatitis C is carried in the blood. It is spread through contact with the blood of a person who already has it.
* You can't catch it through everyday contact such as holding hands, kissing, sharing toilets or kitchen utensils.
* Hepatitis C can be passed from a mother who has the virus, before or during the birth.
* Treatments are improving all the time and an available drug can cure the infection in about half the people treated.
* If you think you are at risk a test can find out if you are infected. Your doctor can carry out the test.