Logo - Heather Trust The Heather Preen Trust
Photograph - Heather Preen My daughter, Heather Preen died on the 8th August 1999 whilst on holiday in Dawlish Warren from Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) after being poisoned by E.coli 0157, she was only eight years old.

Sprig of Heather - Symbol of The Heather Preen Trust
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As with the majority of cases of E.coli 0157 poisoning, the authorities have been unable to find the source of her contamination but have confirmed there were other children infected at the same time as Heather and the only link between them was the beach at Dawlish Warren.

In an attempt to stop such a tragedy occurring again the Heather Preen Trust has been established to raise awareness about E.coli and help find a cure for HUS.
Our aims are:
* Raise awareness of E.coli.
* Provide educative information to children, parents and professionals relating to E.coli.
* Raise funding for medical research into improving identification, treatment and potential cures for E.coli poisoning.
On the 10th February 2000 the inquest into Heather's death took place in Teignmouth. The jury returned a verdict of misadventure and the coroner made several recommendations:
* An ultra violet system to be installed at Dawlish to control sewage discharge.
* An extension of the blue flag area and the length of time the blue flag is flying during the summer.
* A summer dog ban to be imposed on the whole of the beach.
* South West Health Authority should make G.P.s more aware of E.coli 0157 as the number of infections are increasing.
* A central database to be set up to hold information on similar cases.
Before the inquest began I was asked by the people representing me what I wanted to achieve and it was from this discussion the idea of a central database grew. During the inquest all those being questioned; public health, environmental agency, South West Water and Teignbridge District Council were asked if they felt a central database would have aided their investigation and the answer was always yes. Consequently the main thrust of this web page will be to collate information about E.coli so that it can be used as a resource in raising awareness, research and outbreak control.

Heather Preen Trust - Patrons: Professor Hugh Pennington, Dr. Barrie Trevena.
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