New VWD Ambassador and expanded working group

Written by Sam Wilson, June 13, 2024

We’re delighted to announce Hannah Yarnall as our new VWD Ambassador and invite members to join our VWD working group.

The Haemophilia Society is committed to supporting all genetic bleeding disorders. Ensuring all our members have access to services, support and events that match their specific needs and challenges. One way we ensure the ranging needs of those with different disorders are heard and understood is through our numerous working groups. These groups, made up of a diverse group of volunteers, are dedicated to representing, advocating for and serving the needs of a specific community within our membership. This provides with the guidance we need to shape what we do to ensure these needs are properly met.

One such group is our von Willebrands disorder (VWD) working group, which is currently looking for new members.

In some exciting news, the VWD group is now being steered by our new VWD Ambassador, Hannah Yarnall.

Hannah, who has type 2 VWD, has been involved with the society since 2015 when she became a youth ambassador. She has since been a member of our Youth Board and now made the step up to VWD Ambassador. Hannah is a passionate advocate for personalised care and treatment, as well as youth involvement and improved healthcare for women.

Hannah has represented THS at conferences, both nationally and internationally, including as the EHC congress in Zagreb where she spoke about her relationship with her condition and the importance of individualised care plans.

We’re delighted to have Hannah step up to this role, bringing her passion for creating a community of people with similar experiences – ensuring no one feels isolated in living with their condition.

Hannah has big plans for the VWD working group as she looks to ensure that its goals and objectives are strongly represented in the Haemophilia Society’s over-arching strategy. On top of this, she aims to:

  • Work with patients and researchers to identity current patient needs, as well as better understand the wider research, policy and treatment landscape
  • Advocate for more research in VWD patient pain points
  • Identify new and creative ways to raise awareness around VWD symptoms – leading to more effective diagnosis
  • Host VWD events in partnerships with centres nationwide
  • And more!

Over the coming months, we’ll be working directly with the VWD working group to boost their visibility – including creating a distinct visual identity and dedicated section of the THS website.

This is an exciting time to join the group as it looks to put big plans in motion over the coming months and properly represent the VWD community in the UK.

If you’re interested in joining the VWD working group, please email [email protected] with a little bit about yourself and your reasons for wanting to join.