About Us
Our History:
The charity was formed in the mid-1990s by a small group of CF parents who, inspired by the groundbreaking work of the then consultant , joined forces to improve facilities for CF adults at Frimley Park Hospital. Their aim was to raise £1 million to build and equip a dedicated 5 en-suite single bedded unit, complete with out-patient space and treatment rooms. Their dream was to create a “Home-from-Home” specialist CF centre of excellence at Frimley Park.
With the help of family and friends, local businesses and charitable trusts, their fundraising consisted of everything from car washing and cake sales, tin rattling and raffles, to marathons, sponsored walks and bike rides, concerts and charity balls.
Opening of the CF Unit at FPH
Inspired by the enormous efforts and success of this little band of amateur, voluntary fundraising families, the CF Trust came on board providing the last £100,000 needed for the build to begin. In May 2002 the CF Unit at Frimley Park was officially opened by Princess Alexandra.
The charity then set about ensuring that the new unit achieved national specialist status as a Centre of Excellence. In order to do this, they worked alongside the CEO and Board of Frimley Park Hospital together with the consultants and CF team, forming an excellent relationship which exists to this day.
Peer reviews were set up, a second consultant specialising in CF was funded by the charity for 3 years to ensure succession and other MDT positions in the Unit received vital financial support, all in a bid to guarantee specialist status and make sure that CF at Frimley Park was a valuable and viable asset for both the patients and the hospital.
When cross-infection within the CF community became an issue for all CF centres, the charity gave a further £100,000 to the hospital to fund the re-configuration of the unit. Now, 20 years on from when the unit was opened, they are funding a major re-fit to improve facilities once again for our patients. This will be starting in Spring 2023.
Trustee Biographies:
Tessa Morrish
Richard Pearce
Richard Pearce
Tessa Morrish has been deeply involved with the charity since its inception in 1996, becoming the Chair when the CF Unit opened in 2002. She has a long-standing connection with Cystic Fibrosis care at Frimley Park Hospital where her daughter has been a patient since 1984.
Tessa has been a passionate and tireless voluntary fundraiser and ca
Tessa Morrish has been deeply involved with the charity since its inception in 1996, becoming the Chair when the CF Unit opened in 2002. She has a long-standing connection with Cystic Fibrosis care at Frimley Park Hospital where her daughter has been a patient since 1984.
Tessa has been a passionate and tireless voluntary fundraiser and campaigner for the past 35 years, masterminding and orchestrating countless events and raising over £1 million for the CF Trust, CF at Frimley Park Hospital and the UKCF Gene Therapy Consortium.
In 2017 she was awarded the MBE for services to CF. In her spare time she enjoys leading walking groups, the English seaside, photography, looking after her own and other people’s dogs, two donkeys and her grandchildren.
Richard Pearce
Richard Pearce
Richard Pearce
Having spent 35 years in the corporate finance world, I now enjoy gardening, golf, fishing and spending time with family and friends. I’m married to Mandy with 2 children and 3 cats! In 2007, I organised for work colleagues to refurb the outer areas at the unit on a “give and gain” day. The following year I was invited to become a trustee
Having spent 35 years in the corporate finance world, I now enjoy gardening, golf, fishing and spending time with family and friends. I’m married to Mandy with 2 children and 3 cats! In 2007, I organised for work colleagues to refurb the outer areas at the unit on a “give and gain” day. The following year I was invited to become a trustee and the co organiser of the annual golf day, which I still do to this day. In 2019 I agreed to become the charities treasurer.
Tony May
Richard Pearce
Libby May
I qualified with a BSc in electronic engineering in 1972, specialising in my last year in medical electronics! I worked for telecom companies in the UK, USA and Canada and travelled extensively throughout my career.
In 1982 our son Simon was born with Cystic Fibrosis and we were advised his life expectancy was just 8 years. The outpatient
I qualified with a BSc in electronic engineering in 1972, specialising in my last year in medical electronics! I worked for telecom companies in the UK, USA and Canada and travelled extensively throughout my career.
In 1982 our son Simon was born with Cystic Fibrosis and we were advised his life expectancy was just 8 years. The outpatient clinics for CF patients at Frimley Park Hospital were then held by a respiratory consultant in one of the hospital corridors; and CF patients requiring inpatient treatment were distributed throughout the hospital, wherever a bed was available.
I joined the charity, now renamed: the Frimley Park Cystic Fibrosis Charity, in 1996 to help the Charity raise the £1M target to build a specialist CF centre on the Frimley Park Hospital site. The completed Frimley Park CF Unit was opened by Princess Alexandra in 2002.
It has been a thrill to see the CF unit services expand and thrive at Frimley Park over the last 20 years, within the building conceived and funded by the Charity. I personally look after the provision of broadband services within the CF unit, as well as being Company Secretary for the Charity.
Libby May
Mark Walker
Libby May
I have been involved with the charity since 1996 when I was asked to join the fund-raising committee for the building of the CF Unit. Fun times! As a CF parent, I had every reason to want it built and it has transformed our lives over the years for the better. It has been a privilege to be involved with the continuing development of the U
I have been involved with the charity since 1996 when I was asked to join the fund-raising committee for the building of the CF Unit. Fun times! As a CF parent, I had every reason to want it built and it has transformed our lives over the years for the better. It has been a privilege to be involved with the continuing development of the Unit to provide the best possible care for all patients. I became a trustee in 2011.
Mark Walker
Mark Walker
Mark Walker
Mark Walker, 64, has been a Trustee of the charity for 3 years since retiring from a 43-year career with Lloyds Bank in 2019. Most recently he was a Relationship Director specialising in Real Estate funding in the West London area, and he remains a Chartered Member of The Institute of Financial Services.
He brings a wealth of business and
Mark Walker, 64, has been a Trustee of the charity for 3 years since retiring from a 43-year career with Lloyds Bank in 2019. Most recently he was a Relationship Director specialising in Real Estate funding in the West London area, and he remains a Chartered Member of The Institute of Financial Services.
He brings a wealth of business and financial experience to the team and has long standing connections with the CF Unit at FPH as his daughter has been a patient there for the last 18 years. He is a keen golfer, photographer, and guitarist.
Ben Heather
Mark Walker
Mark Walker
I’m Ben, and one of trustees. I feel lucky to have been invited to join this group of dedicated hardworking and supportive people in 20??. My personal relationship with CF started over 30 years ago when I met a friend playing football. Our families became very close and our support for patients with Cystic Fibrosis has become a constant i
I’m Ben, and one of trustees. I feel lucky to have been invited to join this group of dedicated hardworking and supportive people in 20??. My personal relationship with CF started over 30 years ago when I met a friend playing football. Our families became very close and our support for patients with Cystic Fibrosis has become a constant in our lives. Not only with my parents, but more recently with my wife of 19 years Kelly, and children Josh 15, and Amelia 12.
When I’m not trying to be the best example to my children, I find solace in running, and have recently started triathlon training. I love all sports, but Golf and Football are where I spend a lot of my recreational time, thankfully with my family who play and enjoy both sports, although my son now has a lower handicap than me.
My career has been kind to me. I’ve been fortunate to work in television for the past 25 years, on popular and award-winning series like Gogglebox, BGT & Strictly to name a few.
Fran Myers
Fran Myers
Fran Myers
Fran Myers has been supporting Cystic Fibrosis for over 40 years and for the last 2 years has been a Trustee for the Charity. Fran was a Nurse for 20 years before undertaking a BSc Psychology degree at the University of London. She then went on to work for the Probation Service as a Treatment Manager working with violent offenders underta
Fran Myers has been supporting Cystic Fibrosis for over 40 years and for the last 2 years has been a Trustee for the Charity. Fran was a Nurse for 20 years before undertaking a BSc Psychology degree at the University of London. She then went on to work for the Probation Service as a Treatment Manager working with violent offenders undertaking cognitive behavioural programmes, until she retired.
Fran's son, 41 has Cystic Fibrosis and has been cared for at Frimley for almost 40 years. Fran brings a diverse and wide range of experiences to her role as a Trustee. She loves to walk in the Surrey Hills, travelling particularly to Cananda, Norway and Cornwall as well as continuing her interest in Psychology.