Rachel Pugh
I have had the pleasure of knowing Elizabeth Burton-Phillip, both in a personal and
professional capacity. Mrs. B-P is a very popular teacher and because of her
outstanding professionalism, as a mum and a parent, I never once saw any indication of the personal battle she was fighting in her private life.
Elizabeth and her surviving twin son Simon spent their first summer after Nick’s death with my family in Connecticut, USA. Many long sunny evenings were spent at the barbeque chatting about the hellish, heart rendering impact of drugs and substance abuse on her family. Somehow Elizabeth found inspiration from those chats and started writing her book, ‘Mum, can you lend me twenty quid?’ there and then. That she was able to put pen to paper was her first step to recovery and I am so pleased that my family and I were there to witness that.
In the summer of 2004 and 2005, we drove around the US, meeting and learning from
foreign professionals and also the many families, who are experiencing the same hell which Elizabeth had just endured. It was a very moving experience, to learn and to understand how these families cope in the face of adversity, in what is clearly a worldwide problem.
I felt very humbled when Elizabeth asked if I would manage the finances for the charity
which was to be set up in memory of Nick. Having worked in finance both in the US and
UK, I felt it was the least I could do to help.
We have a dedicated team at DrugFAM of which I am proud to be a member. I look
forward to helping ensure the charity fulfils its already great potential.
TRUSTEES:
Dr Ann Canham, Chairman + read profileMr Tom Hendry + read profileSimon Mills + read profileSheela Mackintosh + read profileSimon Israel + read profileHeather Harper + read profilePeter Short + read profileCALL OUR HELPLINE
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