Looking for a new challenge?

Are you looking for a new challenge or use existing skills? Would you like to make a difference? Or would you like to practice your Spanish? If you have answered yes then you might be interested in finding out more about the Butterfly Children Charity Shops.

Butterfly Children suffer from a rare genetic condition called Butterfly Skin that causes the skin to endlessly blister and scar with no cure. It creates high levels of pain, discomfort and heartache to the sufferer and their family. The Charity Shops provide just over half of the charity’s funding enabling their team of Healthcare Professionals to provide health and social care and psychological support to all those affected. Volunteers are vital to the success of the shops and therefore the charity.

Recent studies show that 62% of volunteers want to help people and 65% get satisfaction seeing the difference it makes to people’s lives⁽¹⁾. In addition it has many positive effects on their own lives. Research has shown that it can reduce stress, improve physical fitness, combat depression, and help people find employment⁽²⁾. In general, volunteering can lead to a healthier happier life for all ages.

There are 4 Butterfly Children shops in Costa Del Sol, two in Marbella, one in San Pedro and one in Malaga. If you would like more information about the charity and its shops please go to www.butterflychildrencharity.com or contact Kirsty on 952 816 434 or butterflychildren@debra.es

ABOUT THE BUTTERFLY CHILDREN CHARITY (DEBRA SPAIN)

Founded in 1993, is a non profit-making organization formed to provide support and to improve the quality of life of those affected by Butterfly skin and their families in Spain.  The charity works hard to provide the following:

• Emotional and medical support to families and carers, as well as social services professionals with information and guidance.
• Fully trained nurses who travel throughout Spain visiting families in their own homes.
• Information and advice on all aspects of the disease, coordinating with doctors and health services to ensure patients receive the correct treatment.
• Support for research programmes into a possible cure.
• Media campaigns to promote awareness and raise funds through numerous events and charity shops.
• A number of yearly national meetings to bring affected people together, as well as conferences for medics and other professionals.
• A link to DEBRA in all other countries. Member of DEBRA International
• Continuous work to obtain private and public grants.

ABOUT THE BUTTERFLY SKIN CONDITION:

Butterfly Skin (Scientific name Epidermolysis Bullosa or EB) is an incurable, rare and terrible genetic condition that affects the skin.  It causes the skin to endlessly blister, shear and scar. In severe cases it hurts to walk, eat and bathe.

The skin can be so sensitive that the body must be wrapped in gauze to protect it from the mildest friction. Even the brush of a bed sheet can cause another burn-like blister. Blistering also occurs internally (in the mouth, oesophagus, intestine, airways, urinary tracts and even the inside of the eyelids) leading to further suffering and serious health problems.

Butterfly skin also becomes a disability because people suffering from this condition require intensive daily care from their relatives. They also tend to lose the use of their hands and feet due to the extent of the blistering and the retraction of the skin in these areas. Life expectancy is unfortunately short; hence the majority of our members are children.

⁽¹⁾ (link no longer functional)

⁽²⁾ (link no longer functional)
http://fundraising.co.uk/2008/05/27/volunteering-facts-and-figures/ (link no longer functional)

Elle Draper

Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business – Spain Web Design by Gandy-Draper.
Born a “Norverner”, she then spent most of her life “Dann Saff” before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle’s loves are Alan, the internet, dogs, good food, and dry white wine – although not necessarily in that order.