CHARGE Family Support Group

The CHARGE Family Support Group was set up in 1987 when a doctor passed the name of Sheila Draper onto other families with a CHARGE child. Sheila had expressed that she wanted to meet other children like her son, Gregory, and so the Family Support Group was formed. The aim of the group, as Sheila saw it, was for parents to be in contact with each other, either by letter or by telephone, to offer encouragement, support and to share information. She decided that a newsletter would be an efficient way to keep families informed and up to date The first issue was circulated to 10 families in November 1987.