Sponsored by
'I remain forever heartbroken, knowing he need not have died'
A grieving Southsea woman whose son died from the human strain of mad cow disease is to play a pivotal role in a memorial service for fellow mums.
Christine Lord will take part in the event tomorrow, the eve of Mother's Day, on the banks of the Thames, to remember lost children.
It comes less than two years after her 24-year-old son, Andrew, died following a six-month battle with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
They will gather at the Human BSE Foundation plaque opposite the Houses of Parliament for the moving service.
Relatives and friends will listen to a roll call of more than 200 victims who have died from the devastating brain bug.
Families will then throw single roses into the Thames to represent their lost loved ones.
The event will also mark the anniversary of the day then Conservative health secretary Stephen Dorrell announced that bovine spongiform encephalitis had caused the human strain of mad cow disease.
The annual service has been private until now. But with a new wave of up to 350 vCJD deaths predicted by experts, some mothers have decided to speak out.
Christine, of Wilton Terrace, said: 'I remain forever heartbroken, knowing he needn't have died.
'I will also be there to be my son's voice from the grave. I will be informing other families about my campaign for justice and accountability, and warning those responsible that I have them firmly in my sights.
'I will pursue them relentlessly on behalf of Andrew and all victims of vCJD past, present, and unfortunately those to come in the future.'
Gosport couple Derek and June Richer's daughter Kate died from vCJD in 2001.
Mrs Richer said: 'I can never come to terms with how and what she died of, because I know our Kate could still be with us today if she hadn't consumed BSE-infected material.'
After the ceremony families and friends will board a boat where Christine will discuss her Justice For Andy campaign.
FACTFILE
- Incurable variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease was not identified until 1996.
- It mainly affects people in their mid-20s. So far 164 people in the UK and 42 around the world are known to have died from the disease.
- vCJD is caused by an abnormal protein – a prion – that contaminates the central nervous system.
- All cases share a version of a certain gene. Doctors fear a new wave of vCJD is imminent in Britain after a case in a separate genetic group.
- The government's chief advisor on vCJD, Professor Christopher Higgins, thinks up to 350 people could be affected.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Portsmouth
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -4 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -5 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
