“Will my right hon. Friend commend the work of Charlotte’s Helix…?”

It has been a pretty momentous week so far, and it’s only Thursday.  On Sunday, we launched “Choosing to Give…” to honour Charlotte Bevan’s birthdate, 13 July, which coinicides pretty much with the gestation of Charlotte’s Helix as a project in the minds of three very significant women: Charlotte, Laura (Collins) Lyster-Mensh, and Professor Cindy Bulik.  And then yesterday, Wednesday 16 July, we took Charlotte’s Helix to Westminster, where three Members of Parliament welcomed us inside as they “chose to give…” direct support, in one form or another, to this project.

Brooks Newmark, member for Braintree and newly named Minister for Civil Society, donated his DNA to Charlotte’s Helix as the former sufferer of an eating disorder.  A truly honourable act on his part, and Brooks is leading from the front in practical and personal manner as he joins the UK government as the man responsible for civil society issues, including charitable enterprise. 

Dominic Raab, member for Esher and Walton, inspired by Brooks’ example, also donated his blood as a control sample for the project; and Caroline Nokes, member for Romsey and Southampton North, the earliest supporter of Charlotte’s Helix in the House, and great friend also to another supporter, Beat, not only stopped by to give her support to us in person, but also put a question about Charlotte’s Helix before the Prime Minister and the rest of the House at Prime Minister’s Question time, as she informed that we were coming to Parliament:

amongst whom Caroline specifically included Mr Newmark, who chose not only to donate his DNA to our project yesterday, but also to speak out about his former eating disorder as example to others.

David Cameron thanked Caroline for her question, and the answer came: yes he will

We at Charlotte’s Helix commend them all right back, for understanding that this is what Charlotte’s Helix and AN25K are all about - the courage to donate to a cause that will directly enable us to learn much, much more than the little that we already do, and why that is important.

Thank you!  To all of the MP’s who supported us yesterday and who "chose to give…" something of themselves: Brooks, Caroline and Dominic gave their support willingly and openly, and we are very grateful to them all.  Thank you also to the wonderful Kings College London team, presided over by Dr Gerome Breen, who pulled out all the stops to make this event happen within the corridors of power (more corridors than you might think!).   And last, but by no means least, thank you to the delightful staff at Brooks Newmark’s office, for all their assistance in making this happen, ably assisted in their turn by the staff at the offices of both Caroline Nokes and Dominic Raab; it was a magnificent day, and we couldn’t have asked for more generous, supportive and gracious hosts, and ones whose courage to speak out and to “give” to Charlotte’s Helix will inspire many more to come forward. 

Today we announce a "choose to give" campaign in honor of Charlotte's birthday July 13. Join us in making this dream happen and make medical history. Play some small part, or a big part, but take your place as one of the people who solves the puzzle of eating disorders by supporting this project. It's a heck of a way to raise funds for research but if not us, who?

Many thanks to Felicity McKee, at Disordered Reality blog site, for joining the Helix research volunteers. Our friends at Kings College London report we have reached 250 recruits for the study, one quarter of our goal!

"...when I read up about Charlottes Helix and their research into finding the genetic markers I wanted to help out to0. It is really simple, literally a blood test." 

Charlotte's dream to have the UK included in the international AN25K initiative is coming true: DNA sample by DNA sample. Each participant MATTERS, and is so appreciated. By participating, or by donating to make the sampling possible, we are all moving toward the true goal: of cracking the code on what predisposes people to develop eating disorders and how we can best treat and even prevent these devastating conditions.

All of us Helix supporters are grateful to you, Felicity, for joining the study and for spreading the word. Thank you to all the generous bloggers, tweeters, Facebook posters, tea hosts, and volunteers!

Charlotte’s Helix was celebrating with Sarah Robertson as she received a Beat Volunteer Recognition Award at the House of Commons last week, for her campaigning work involving eating disorders.  The ceremony was supported and opened by Caroline Nokes (MP for Romsey and Southampton North), and we would like to offer our further congratulations to all of the award winners and to everyone nominated across all nine categories.

Sarah and her friend Ilona Burton took the opportunity of being in London for this event to visit Kings College’s De Crespigny Park campus where they donated blood samples for the Charlotte’s Helix project, and they took to Twitter to encourage others to do the same.  Thank you to both of you; we appreciate your support and our registrations have shown an upturn since your efforts.

Anyone London based or London bound* is more than welcome to pass by KCL and donate DNA too (call for appointments on Freephone 0800 995 1999 or email bioresource@kcl.ac.uk).  Those not able to get to the KCL team in the capital can obtain a pack to provide DNA (either blood or saliva) to be posted to KCL – DNA from both sources is welcome for the project - call the Freephone number or write to the email address to connect with a team ready to give details and to post out consent forms and packs.  The hotline number for any questions that can’t be answered via the Freephone number or for anyone having trouble getting connected is 020 7848 5381.

Thank you @sarah_robbo and @ilonacatherine, and thank you to all the others who have registered since to follow in the footsteps of our pioneers – Charlotte’s Helix salutes each and every one of you!

* no travel expenses can be paid, unfortunately

A group of F.E.A.S.T. families in Melbourne held a tea March 2 to celebrate Charlotte Bevan and raise money for Charlotte's Helix. $300 AUS (£160) was raised, and a good time had by all! Thank you so much to 

Are you near Sydney, Australia? Please join a tea on March 6 at the Petty Cash Cafe.

In Birmingham, UK? There's a tea on March 21 planned.

Do you want to gather your friends for tea to support Charlotte's Helix? Please let us know so we can post, and celebrate with you!