A CHAIRTY supporting people with a life-threatening condition has received a £10,000 funding pledge from a medical technology firm.

The Sepsis Trust works to raise the profile of septicaemia, or blood poisoning.

The body's immune attacks tissues and organs after an infection. This can lead to shock, organ failure and death.

Dr. Ron Daniels, chief executive, the UK Sepsis Trust, comments: “Sepsis has a devastating human cost.

"Every day in the UK, individuals and families have their lives torn apart by the condition, but better awareness and education for healthcare professionals could prevent thousands of unnecessary deaths."

Global medical technology firm Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), based at Winnersh Triangle, raised £650 at the firm's Grand Opening Event on June 1.

The firm has pledged to raise £10,000 across the next year.

"It’s the extraordinary generosity of supporters like BD that allows us to continue to spread the word; developing an awareness campaign for adults and educating healthcare professionals," Dr Daniels continued.

"We are privileged to be BD’s Charity of the Year, and we’d like to say a huge thank you from us all for supporting this cause."

Mike Fairbourn, vice president and general manager at BD UK and Ireland said: “This event celebrated our recent move to the Winnersh Triangle business park, which was a key part of the company’s growth strategy for the future."

The launch event was attended by John Kaiser, deputy mayor of Wokingham; Jane Fogg, from UK Sepsis Trust, Steve McManus, chief executive officer of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and senior BD executives.