Latest news with #SarahBrown
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Project to analyse York Minster's Rose Window
A major restoration project is under way at York Minster, which will analyse the famous Rose Window. Due to the devastating fire in 1984, the 500-year-old stained glass window cracked in 40,000 places under the extreme 450C (842F) window, designed in the 16th Century to celebrate the marriage of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York in 1486, was restored by glaziers following the will now re-examine the work, to understand how to better care for the window in the future. The three lancet windows in the cathedral's South Transept are also set to be safeguarded by adding protective windows, which are beneath the Rose Window, depict Saints Peter, Paul, Wilfred and William of to their positioning, they were not subject to the same fire damage but exposure to the elements has rendered them vulnerable to corrosion and paint loss. Prof Sarah Brown, director of the York Glaziers Trust, said the windows had undergone a variety of restorations and additions over the years, as well as being completely removed during World War Two."It was Peter Gibson OBE, former superintendent of the York Glaziers Trust, who insisted that the Rose Window could be saved after the 1984 fire," she said. "At the time, some people saw its perilous condition as an opportunity for a completely new stained glass commission. "Thankfully, his advice was heeded and the glaziers worked tirelessly to restore the artwork."Scaffolding has been put up inside and outside the South Transept to allow teams to access the will look at the repair work from the 1980s and analyse how the restoration methods used have stood the test of time. Alex McCallion, director of works and precinct at the cathedral, added: "Four decades ago, a multidisciplinary team of skilled craftspeople worked to sensitively restore the cathedral after that devastating fire."He said they had used the best tools and techniques available at the time."We now have a fantastic opportunity to re-examine their work to allow us to better understand the Rose Window and how we might care for it into the future."The York Minster Fund was set up in 1967 to pay for projects such as this. In 2024, the Julia Rausing Trust awarded the fund a £500,000 grant, which will support the Rose Window analysis. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Queen meets cancer patients on visit to Maggie's centre
The Queen has met people living with cancer during a visit to the charity Maggie's, which she is president of. Arriving in heavy rain, Camilla was greeted by Maggie's chief executive Dame Laura Lee before moving inside to meet staff, volunteers and centre users. Maggie's Fife opened in 2006 in the grounds of Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy and was the first permanent structure in the UK by architect Dame Zaha Hadid. Built in the grounds of NHS hospitals, the cancer support charity centres aim to provide a comforting space where patients can meet others who understand what they are going through. Camilla has been president of the charity since 2008 and since then has visited 17 out of the 24 centres. During her visit on Wednesday, the Queen also met campaigner Sarah Brown and broadcaster Kirsty Wark who have both long been patrons of Maggie's. Mrs Brown, wife of former prime minister Gordon Brown, said: 'I think it's really special for the Queen to come to the Maggie's here in Kirkcaldy. 'I know that there has been a warm welcome for both the King and the Queen coming to Fife and I'm so pleased she was able to make time to come to the Maggie's. 'This, I think, is one of the real gems. I was here at the opening a long time ago and I've seen it grow to become such an important part of the community. 'There are people here with cancer who need it, and their families, but also people are fundraising for it and they just feel so connected to it.' Mrs Brown said the Queen seemed interested to hear about the young people's group at the centre. She added: 'I was very struck by her hearing about the young people's group here because that is an area of concern in that field, that there are more and more young people with cancer and trying to understand why that is and what's happening in our lives, and that was definitely something she homed in on and understood it was a concern. 'She was pleased to hear there is such an active young person's group here.' Wark, who has been a Maggie's patron for more than 20 years, said the Queen is 'incredibly committed' to Maggie's and her visit on Wednesday meant a lot to those at the Fife centre. She said: 'When the Queen is here what she wants to do is speak to centre users, they are the best advocates for Maggie's and often you will find that a centre user becomes a volunteer.' The Queen also met Gregor Forbes, 37, who was diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin Lymphoma in January 2022, seven days before his son was born. He underwent six months of chemotherapy and has since been in remission. He joined a discussion with the Queen, Mrs Brown and Wark and told them about his experience taking part in the young person's group at Maggie's. Mr Forbes, who lives in Rosyth in Fife, said: 'The Queen seemed really warm and really engaged and it was really nice that she came. 'It's a day I will never forget.' Maggie's was founded by the late writer, gardener and designer Maggie Keswick Jencks and her husband, the late landscape designer Charles Jencks. The idea for the centres came after she was diagnosed with cancer and was then told in 1993 that it had returned and was moved to a windowless corridor to process the news. The first Maggie's opened in Edinburgh in 1996. Dame Laura said: 'It is always a joy to welcome Her Majesty to one of our centres, especially one she has never been to before. 'As always, she was incredibly generous with her time and listened closely to our centre visitors as they shared their stories. 'We are so grateful for her continued support.'
RNZ News
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
She Is Not Your Rehab - Children's Edition
life and society about 1 hour ago Following the success of their number one bestselling book She Is Not Your Rehab; founders of the global anti-domestic violence movement Matt and Sarah Brown are now turning their focus to the next generation. They've written a children's book, This Is Not Yours to Carry, they told Jesse this book offers kids a tool to understand and release their pain before it becomes lifelong baggage.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Heartbreak for Aussie families as death toll from 'killer' disease hits 'unprecedented' numbers
A grieving family have warned Australians to take the 'unprecedented' rise in cases of a deadly, soil-borne disease seriously. At least 31 Aussies have died after being infected by tropical disease melioidosis so far this year, with 211 cases recorded across the state. The number of people suffering from the disease, caused by bacteria lurking in mud and dirty water, has seen a significant increase compared to previous years. The family of Evan Brown, who contracted the disease and died in hospital in March last year, warned that Australians should not assume their symptoms are flu. 'That's something we didn't put together and I really wish that we had,' his wife Sarah Brown said. 'I really hope that people can start to hear the message and really understand that it is present - and it's probably going to get worse if we keep having these big flood seasons.' Mr Brown, who was diabetic with an auto-immune condition, thought he had suffered from a virus after being sick on and off for a month before he was admitted to hospital. His organs began shutting down and he was airlifted to the Gold Coast where he eventually passed away. Ms Brown said the rising death toll was incredibly triggering for her family. 'It's been really scary for us because obviously it makes everything very present and very conscious again for us,' she said. The fatal tropical disease, caused by bacteria which lives in water or soil that has been disturbed, is commonly detected in northern Australia. It is seasonal in nature, with cases often occurring during wet season when there has been heavy rain or flooding, such as that seen across Queensland during autumn. Professor Paul Griffin, Mater Health Services' director of infectious diseases, said the extraordinary flooding in north Queensland was a key factor in the surging cases. 'When you see the rainfall and the flooding events that we've had, it was expected that we'd have a potential increase in cases,' he said. 'But I think the magnitude and the number of deaths in particular is a bit of a surprise.' Some medical experts have also suggested the disturbance of soil during the Bruce Highway upgrade could be a contributing factor. 'It's certainly been speculated that there's some clustering of cases around there and that may be a factor,' Prof Griffin said. Infrastructure body Transport and Main Roads, which is responsible for the project, has said previously that they met with researchers about the construction. 'Should health investigations confirm ground-disturbing works are a contributing factor in the spread of soil-borne bacteria causing illnesses, TMR will implement any recommendations from experts to ensure essential road projects meet the highest level of safety,' a TMR spokesperson said. Those with underlying health conditions like diabetes and lung disease, along with people who drink a lot of alcohol, are urged to take precautions. Symptoms include fever, pneumonia, exhaustion, vomiting, abdominal pains and chest pressure. When potentially exposed to contaminated water or handling soil, gumboots, long pants, gloves and masks are recommended.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
SC has declared Infertility Awareness Week — now let's protect IVF
Sarah Brown, a Birmingham, Alabama, resident and in vitro fertilization patient, holds a sign saying 'I'm Here Because of IVF' at the Alabama Statehouse on Feb. 28, 2024 in Montgomery, Alabama. (File photo by Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) When my infertility journey began back in 2015, no one I knew was talking about it. It felt like this secret club no one wanted to admit they were in. That's why I'm so proud that, thanks to recent advocacy efforts, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued a proclamation (provided below) officially recognizing National Infertility Awareness Week, which will be observed April 20–26. It's a powerful step in acknowledging that infertility is real; it's medical; and it affects 1 in 7 couples in the U.S. — including me. Awareness about infertility is just the beginning. Because of my infertility, I tried multiple treatment options — including four rounds of intrauterine insemination (IUI) and three rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF). In the end, we walked away with one living child and one miscarriage that required a dilatation and curettage (D&C) procedure. We paid 100% out of pocket for treatment because, as a military family, we don't have insurance coverage for infertility care unless it's due to a direct injury to reproductive organs. That's something most people don't realize. And it's just one example of how broken and inconsistent the system is when it comes to supporting people who want to build a family. That's part of what drives me today. I now run my own business, Empowered Infertility, as an IVF mindset coach and host the 'More Than Your Infertility' podcast. Since 2019, I have worked with women all over the country to help them emotionally navigate the IVF rollercoaster — because I know firsthand how hard it is and how isolating it can feel. Recently, I participated in a federal advocacy day through Resolve (the national infertility association) where I met with South Carolina legislators alongside other residents impacted by infertility. We shared our stories — the heartbreak, the medical treatments, the financial burden — all in hopes of helping lawmakers understand what's at stake. One of the people who joined us was a hopeful grandmother from the Lowcountry. Her son and daughter-in-law are currently going through IVF to try to start a family — to make her a grandma. And she wanted lawmakers to know that even as a Catholic, she fully supports access to IVF care. Her voice reminded me that this issue crosses political, religious, and generational lines. It's about people, not parties. That's why I'm grateful for the work of the Women's Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN). WREN has been a tireless force in South Carolina for years, helping to secure access to contraception, protect bodily autonomy, and defend the right to make informed reproductive decisions. They've helped pass laws like the Pharmacy Access Act, which allows pharmacists to prescribe birth control directly — a huge win for health care access in our state. Now, WREN is helping lead the effort to protect IVF, and they're showing everyday people like me how to use our stories to make a difference — even if we don't have a background in politics. And here's the thing: You don't have to testify at the Statehouse or publish an op-ed to make your voice count. If you're in the thick of treatments right now, just getting through the day is enough — I've got you. But if you're on the other side, or you know someone who's walked this path, now is the time to speak up. Infertility and IVF are no longer topics whispered about in secrecy. More and more people are finding the courage to share — not just publicly, but in everyday conversations. Start with your inner circle. Talk to your friends, your coworkers, your community. When lawmakers hear from people they know and love, it changes everything. IVF isn't a first option. It's often the last resort after years of trying less invasive treatments. It's not a luxury. It's a medical treatment option. It's a lifeline. And it deserves to be protected. As we recognize National Infertility Awareness Week here in South Carolina, let's do more than acknowledge the problem. Let's support the people going through it. Let's protect access to IVF for all the people who will need it and don't even know it. And let's make sure our lawmakers understand: Infertility is a medical diagnosis that doesn't discriminate — and neither should our laws.
