Sir Richard Bayliss, Thyroidologist:
The British Thyroid Foundation is the brain-child of Mrs. Janis Hickey. In 1989 this lady, then aged 34 years, was suffering from thyrotoxicosis and sought to learn more about the nature and course of her thyroid disorder. Through relatives she learnt of The Thyroid Foundation in Canada and wrote to this organisation in April 1989, seeking advice on how she might organise a similar foundation in the United Kingdom. They suggested that she contact me.
I suggested that Mrs. Hickey talk with Dr. Paul Belchetz, the endocrinologist under whose care she was at The General Infirmary, Leeds. Dr. Belchetz offered to raise the matter of a British Thyroid Foundation at the next meeting of the Thyroid Club, which was then the forerunner of the medical profession's organisation for thyroidologists, The British Thyroid Association. After due consideration the members of the Thyroid Club welcomed the establishment of the British Thyroid Foundation. Armed with this support and her own determination, Mrs. Hickey undertook the formidable task of registering The British Thyroid Foundation as a charity, recruited a legal adviser, established a broadly-based Council of Management (Trustees) and an Advisory Board. She sought financial support, mainly from the pharmaceutical industry. The first formal meeting of the Trustees was held in July 1991 and there has been no looking back. Patients with thyroid diseases and those who look after them owe a great debt to Janis Hickey.