What we do

The Daisy Garland charity was set up in November 2004 to keep Daisy’s memory alive and to help other little children like her.

We fund an increasing number of Ketogenic Dietitians who work in National Health Hospitals treating hundreds of children with intractable epilepsy.

We are the only UK charity funding Ketogenic Dietitians - each dietitian costs in the region of £26,000 per annum. If you think you could help us fund our next Daisy Garland Ketogenic Dietitian go to HOW YOU CAN HELP. Be in touch today.

Our Ketogenic Dietitians

The Daisy Garland charity has provided funding for all of the following ketogenic dietitians - all working in NHS Hospitals in the UK, treating children with hard to control epilepsy.

Each dietician costs approximately £26,000 per year and we need your help to keep them in place. Please consider fundraising for us today, so that our dieticians can continue treating children with drug resistant epilepsy. If we don’t raise the funds to keep them, we lose them. It’s as simple as that. For further information and a free handbook on the ketogenic diet, please visit our website, contact us. Parents considering the ketogenic diet will require a referral from their GP, Paediatrician or Neurologist.

Alison Hill, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth

I grew up in Northern Ireland and qualified in 1993 from Leeds Metropolitan University. I took up my first job at Dr Gray’s Hospital, Morayshire, Scotland covering all aspects of dietetics.

In 1996 The English Riviera & better weather beckoned (which is rich coming from Ireland, you’d think I’d have got used to it!), I moved to Plymouth working mostly in Oncology, Neurology/Neurosciences and Paediatrics.
After raising my 3 children to school age I needed a new challenge and was aware of the ketogenic diet as part of a cutting edge treatment for epilepsy. I was also aware of the ongoing ketogenic study at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

I took up the post of ‘Daisy Garland Ketogenic Dietitian’ in November 2008. It was a little daunting setting up a new service but I enlisted the help of a Consultant Paediatrician and Clinical Pathologist. Together we have produced a Care Pathway for children enrolling onto the Ketogenic Diet and devised a Metabolic Investigations Programme. We accept referrals throughout the South West where other dietetic departments are unable to provide the necessary input required for the diet.

I have 6 patients who have started on the ketogenic diet, assisted 1 coming off the diet from the GOSH study and have 3 children in the preparation stages of starting the diet. Some of the results have been amazing both in terms of seizure control and general developmental progress.

Please note that a referral from your GP, paediatrician or neurologist is required.

Lee-Anne McHarry at St. Georges Hospital, SW London

I am a Paediatric Dietitian who specialised in the ketogenic diet at St George’s Hospital, London where I had the privilege of being the first ‘Daisy Garland Ketogenic Dietitian’ working with children and their families on the ketogenic diet. My passion for the diet grew quickly and the children and their dedicated parents made my job as their ketogenic dietitian so much easier. It is extremely rewarding work and seeing how the ketogenic diet can change the lives of children who would otherwise not be given a chance to meet their full potential had a real impact on me. Many of the children I worked with struggled on a daily basis with difficult to control seizures. The diet works at various levels for different children and although they may not become seizure free, the results that their parents and I witnessed made it worthwhile to continue pursuing the diet. It is truly amazing when diet therapy can help change a child from one who lies down all day, barely able to move, to one who is rolling, making purposeful and intentional movements and laughing.

I returned to Cape Town, South Africa in January 2008 with the same drive and passion to bring the ketogenic diet to the forefront of all neurologists and paediatricians who care for children with epilepsy. I have therefore set up ‘Keto Kids’ a Ketogenic Diet Centre in Cape Town and hope to support and encourage children and their families on their ketogenic diet journey. I hope to offer training to dietitians in South Africa who would like to work on the ketogenic diet but have never initiated the diet before. I have a degree in biochemistry and dietetics and find the two complement each other greatly. I fine tune the ketogenic diet by monitoring blood ketone levels alongside blood glucose levels and have had many success stories.

I am grateful to Sara and David and all at The Daisy Garland for their ongoing encouragement and support. I hope to keep you all updated with our progress in South Africa.

Tara Randall, one of two Daisy Dietitian's based The Evelina Children's Hospital at Guy's and St. Thomas', London

I have been working for Guy’s & St Thomas NHS Trust as a Paediatric Dietitian for 10 years. For the last three and a half years I have worked solely in the area of Ketogenic diets.
Our patient group has increased rapidly, and my knowledge, especially in the practical areas of the diet, has also improved greatly. I work as part of our Keto team, offering the Classical & MCT Ketogenic diets, and recently the Modified Atkins diet.
We strive to ensure that the type of diet and practicalities of the diet are adapted for each individual child.
I enjoy the challenge of working with Ketogenic Diets, and look forward to working with more families.

Mary-Anne Leung, The Evelina Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas', London

I have been working as a Paediatric Dietitian for many years and have experience in all areas of Paediatric Dietetics.

For the last 12 years I have specialised in working with children with neurological problems both in the Community and Hospital settings. I have been working at the Evelina Children's Hospital at Guy's and St Thomas' for 51/2 years and just over 3 years ago became involved with Ketogenic diets in the treatment of Epilepsy.

From having 1 child on the ketogenic diet, the team at the Evelina now have over 20 children on various types of Ketogenic diets. Funding from The Daisy Garland Charity has enabled additional dietetic time to cover this valuable and rewarding work.

Jane Davison, The Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham

I have been working in paediatrics for nearly 25 years and have been at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham for nearly 23 years, covering all areas of dietetics.

In recent years I have worked in paediatric diabetes, allergy and general medicine. I am now greatly enjoying the post of 'Daisy Garland Ketogenic Dietitian'.

I am married, and am a mum to 3 teenage kids who also keep me busy!

Nicol Clayton, The Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

I have been working as a Paediatric Dietitian at North Bristol Trust for 6 years. The last 3 of which I have specialised in working with children with complex neurological problems in the community. I also work within a specialist feeding difficulties team, seeing a wide range of children with very entrenched and restricted eating behaviours.

I am absolutely thrilled to become a 'Daisy Garland Ketogenic Dietitian' and am very excited to be able to offer this diet to children with epilepsy and to help families fit the ketogenic diet into their lives.

I will be supported by Kathy Lord, Chief Dietitian at North Bristol Trust. Kathy has personally championed ketogenic diets for a number of years, offering a small dietetic service to patients who have been individually funded. We are both really grateful to Sara and David at the Daisy Garland for giving us the opportunity to develop our service, enabling us to offer the ketogenic diet to more children in this area.

I am married with 2 young children who keep me very busy. In my spare time I enjoy playing netball. I also love cooking and baking and I love trying out new ketogenic recipes.

Don't forget to ask your Ketogenic Dietitian to apply to us for your free Keto Starter Box which includes:- Electronic scales, a selection of handy Tupperware pots, liquid Hermesetas sweetener, silicone spatula, The Ketogenic Diet Book, a Daisy Garland apron, a Daisy Garland Parents Ketogenic Handbook and for the up to 5's a thermal picnic bag.

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