Appeals: Action on Pre-eclampsia

Action on Pre-eclampsia, formed in 1991, is a national charity which supports sufferers of pre-eclampsia, one of the commonest and most dangerous complications of pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia seems to occur through some deficiency of the placenta: the baby's development can be retarded because of lack of oxygen and nutrition, while the mother can suffer raised blood pressure or, worse, complete organ breakdown. It affects one pregnancy in 10 in the UK and kills about 1,000 babies and 10 mothers every year. No one knows the cause and the only cure is delivery, sometimes at the cost of the baby's life. The charity also raises funds for research; so far it has been run on a voluntary basis but it now urgently needs some pounds 100,000 so that it can employ a skeleton staff of three for two years to expand its activities.

Action on Pre-eclampsia, 61 Greenways, Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire WD5 0EU, telephone 0923 260052.