Latest news with #DeborahRichards
RNZ News
05-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Water cremations approved for first time
Canterbury 28 minutes ago Water cremations in Christchurch have been approved - the first time the option has been availble in New Zealand. Traditionally in New Zealand there have been four choices: burial in the ground or at sea, cremation - with the ashes then stored or scattered, and donation of our body to medical science. Now there is another option - water cremation. Deborah Richards and Andrew Bell, directors and operators of the Christchurch Water Crematorium discuss why they think it will be a popular post-life choice.
RNZ News
05-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Environmentally friendly water cremation service to open in Christchurch
Resomation founder Sandy Sullivan and Water Cremation Aotearoa founder Deborah Richards, at the Kindly Earth facility near Durham in England. This facility is due to open at the end of 2023. Photo: Supplied/Deborah Richards New Zealand's first water crematorium is opening in Christchurch on Friday, giving people a new option for what happens to their body after they die. Water cremation, also called alkaline hydrolysis or resomation, was used in several countries as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cremation . It involves a body being put into a tube containing 95 percent water and five percent alkaline, and heated up and pressurised for about four hours. The remains are then given back to the relatives, while the water is treated and put back into the water cycle. Christchurch Water Crematorium director Debbie Richards said it had been a long battle to get the process approved in New Zealand. "After working on this for more than seven years, we are thrilled to be able to offer water cremation as a far more environmentally sustainable end-of-life choice," she said. The project is a partnership between Water Cremation Aotearoa and funeral service provider Bell, Lamb and Trotter. Richards said the water cremation process produced no carbon emissions. "Anything not of the body - such as pacemakers and implants remain behind, clean and intact, and can be recycled. The bones that remain after the process is complete can be returned to the family as bones or white ash, it is their choice," she said. A single traditional flame cremation produced about 180 to 240kg of carbon emissions, Richards said. "I think that those people that want to tread more lightly and leave less of a footprint environmentally, and are concerned about carbon emission and want to do something about climate change, they will find this appealing," she said. "A lot of people perceive it as gentler than flame cremation as well so for those reasons I think people will definitely choose it." Richards said the water cremation service was being offered for $1350. "We're offering it just through Bell, Lamb and Trotter at the moment. It works out as a little bit cheaper than a flame cremation and one of the reasons for that is that there's no casket required. We can't put a casket inside a resomater, we can only put things that are protein based," she said. "We wrap a body in some beautiful New Zealand wool, we've got that from Wisewool up in Gisborne where they have the sheep and they make the beautiful blanketing that we wrap people in as a shroud." Bell, Lamb and Trotter managing director Andrew Bell said this new technology was a significant development for the funeral industry. "Bell, Lamb and Trotter was the first company in the country to introduce embalming in 1896 and then flame cremation became available in 1909 which is probably the last time something so noteworthy has happened in the funeral services sector," he said. Bell said with about 80 percent of the company's clients choosing cremation over burial, he believed water cremation would have wide appeal. Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger will formally open the water crematorium at Bell, Lamb and Trotter's St Asaph Street site on Friday. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Interactive Storybook Aims to Educate Children with Rare Kidney Disease into a World of Adventure and Understanding
The interactive fantasy e-book "Revealing the Secrets of aHUS" puts young children at the centre of the story as they explore and learn with their families about atypical Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (aHUS) LONDON, February 12, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease has launched a new electronic storybook (e-book) to support children living with rare kidney disease, atypical Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (aHUS). The interactive book will help children understand their condition by translating complex medical terms into accessible information, as well as building awareness of the practical and emotional support available. Estimated to affect 0.4 - 0.5 people per million,1 aHUS is a genetic, ultra-rare disease, which can progressively damage vital organs, such as the kidneys, and can affect both children and adults.1 The interactive storybook is designed to support children diagnosed with aHUS and their families to better understand the condition. Developed in consultation with Kidney Care UK and the Newcastle National Renal Complement Therapeutics Centre, this immersive book, "Revealing the Secrets of aHUS", transforms the journey of diagnosis, subsequent treatment and care for young people with aHUS, into an accessible, interactive experience. By blending complex healthcare information with imaginative play, the storybook aims to demystify aHUS for children, offering clarity and support in a way that is fun and empowering. "In the UK, 3.5 million people live with a rare disease; it's estimated that 75% of those conditions affect children.2 At Alexion, we work in partnership with healthcare providers to support these young people, helping them better understand a complex disease like aHUS," said Deborah Richards, General Manager, Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease. "Working with medical and patient advocacy partners, we're now able to provide children with a way to learn about their disease and importantly help them feel in control." Aimed at 6–10-year-olds, readers become the heroes of their own story. By personalising the main character – choosing their name, appearance, and outfit – children step into the shoes of the 'Guardian of Healthoria', embarking on a mission to restore a once-thriving land overrun by naughty pixies. Along the way, they battle mythical creatures, solve puzzles, and uncover magical artefacts, all while learning about their kidneys, the immune system, and how to help manage the impact of aHUS on their body and mental health. Readers are offered a mix of quests and challenges – riddles, mazes, and jigsaws – that encourage children to absorb key healthcare information while having fun. At each stage of their journey, young adventurers collect rewards and receive memorable recaps of what they have learned, making complex medical concepts easier to understand. Laurie Cuthbert, Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications at Kidney Care UK, said: "The children and families we support at the charity show the most incredible levels of resilience. Having a rare and complex condition like aHUS can be challenging to both live with and to understand which is why we're delighted to be involved with "Revealing the Secrets of aHUS". It gives children the chance to see themselves in a character and story as well as learning more about their condition. It also helps to create a space where parents and carers can learn more about aHUS together and how they can support their child to live with this complex condition." Available on a laptop, tablet, mobile phone and in print, there are four key areas of focus throughout the book as the character navigates their way through. This includes what to expect through the patient journey, how the kidneys are affected, learning about and dealing with their emotions and how to find support, and the impact aHUS can have on children's daily lives. "Navigating through a disease is hard for anyone, at any age, but it can be particularly tough for children to fully understand the implications and support available." Christine Maville, Nurse Consultant (aHUS) for Newcastle Hospitals' National Renal Complement Therapeutics Centre (NRCTC) said. "This book clearly explains the complexities of aHUS and how to cope with the challenges of living with a rare disease. It is a valuable resource, and hopefully one which can brighten and engage the imagination of children diagnosed with aHUS and remind them they are not alone." To learn more about aHUS and how to find support available for patients, visit To access the storybook visit: Alexion Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease is focused on serving patients and families affected by rare diseases and devastating conditions through the discovery, development and delivery of life-changing medicines. A pioneering leader in rare disease for more than three decades, Alexion was the first to translate the complex biology of the complement system into transformative medicines, and today it continues to build a diversified pipeline across disease areas with significant unmet need, using an array of innovative modalities. As part of AstraZeneca, Alexion is continually expanding its global geographic footprint to serve more people with rare disease around the world. It is headquartered in Boston, US. AstraZeneca AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca's innovative medicines are sold in more than 125 countries and used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit and follow the Company on social media @AstraZeneca. About aHUS Atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS) is an ultra-rare disease that affects both children and adults and can lead to potentially irreversible damage to kidneys and other vital organs, sudden or progressive kidney failure (requiring dialysis or transplant) and premature death.1 aHUS is characterised by inflammation and the formation of blood clots in small blood vessels throughout the body (thrombotic microangiopathy [TMA]) mediated by chronic, uncontrolled activation of the complement system, which is part of the body's immune system. aHUS is characterised by reduced platelet count (thrombocytopenia), microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia (as a result of haemolysis [destruction of red blood cells]) and acute kidney injury (AKI).3 Early and careful diagnosis of aHUS is critical, as many coexisting diseases and events are known or suspected to activate the complement cascade, and as patients may not necessarily present with the classic triad of thrombocytopenia, haemolytic anaemia and renal impairment or may have less severe renal involvement.3 Available tests can help distinguish aHUS from other haemolytic diseases with similar symptoms such as HUS caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC-HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).3 About Kidney Care UK Kidney Care UK is the UK's leading kidney patient support charity, providing practical, financial and emotional assistance for kidney patients and their families throughout the UK. We believe that no-one should face kidney disease alone; email support@ or call 0808 801 00 00. References NRCTC Annual Report (2022). Available at: [Last accessed February 2025] GOV UK (2021). UK Rare Diseases Framework. Available at: [Accessed: February 2025] Rare Check (2017) Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. Available at: [Accessed: February 2025] View source version on Contacts Media enquiries: Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease UKLucy Pritchard07876 289 Real ChemistryJames Watkins07917 904 171jawatkins@ Sign in to access your portfolio
