Our Team
Meet our founder
Dee Cartledge
Doreen’s background experience working for the NHS for 25 years as a GP receptionist and having level 2 Oxford and Cambridge counselling qualification, along with her 10 year Cruise bereavement counselling qualification led her to volunteering for 20 years. Her many years of experience and having lost her son Lee through necrotising fasciitis . Doreen feels comfortable in offering empathy, respect and understanding to the people who make contact and can offer counselling over the phone or on a one to one basis.
Being involved in world wide organisations attending many conferences, NHS Seminars, media interviews and attending International Symposiums on Streptococci and Streptococcal diseases. Developing Medical Training DVD’s on this subject.
Meet our Chair Person
Jane Dunnington Wallace
I am pleased and honoured to introduce myself to you as the new Chair of the Lee Spark NF Foundation. My name is Jane and I am a 57 year old Wife, Mother and Grandmother from Oldham in Manchester.
I have worked in the hair industry for 40 years. I am sport mad, however, a troublesome back has ended any chance of playing any sport ever again! We have 3 dogs in our family and we love to travel.
My husband had NF in 2019, luckily he survived. I googled NF at the time and that’s how I came to find the fabulous Dee Cartledge and The Lee Spark Foundation.
I’m honoured to introduce myself to you as the new Chair of the Lee Spark NF Foundation.
Our Trustees & Ambassadors
Elaine McCulloch
Maternity & Liaison support
Ambassador for Glasgow area & Trustee
I am a disabled person and mother of two. I have a full time caring husband. I became involved in The Lee Spark Foundation after contracting Necrotising Fasciitis after an emergency c-section on 14th April 2005. I spent many months in hospital including ICU, HDU and underwent 6 debridement operations and a long 22 month recovery after being left with a 18 inch hip to hip open wound.
Looking for information, help and support I found this wonderful charity and the assistance of Doreen Cartledge with any question or worry answered with a warm friendly voice. I found the web page extremely informative and realised the need to raise more awareness, but I wanted to become an Ambassador to spread the word regarding Necrotising Fasciitis and the need for quick diagnosis, effective treatment and rehabilitation from this horrendous disease. I feel given the opportunity within my living area of Scotland I could make a huge difference by sharing my story and what The Lee Spark Foundation stands for, working together in partnership we potentially could save lives.
Lucy Louise Mould
Parent & Child Support
Ambassador for North East UK
My name is Lucy and in 2013 my one year old son, Frankie developed Group A strep associated necrotising fasciitis. When the infection was diagnosed Frankie was given a very small chance of survival. He had tissue and muscle debrided from 80% of his back, left flank and left thigh.
Frankie survived and has extensive skin grafting. We live in the north east of England and attend the great north childrens hospital regularly as Frankie will need operations as he grows because his skin grafts do not grow with him.
It has been 5 years since we first heard the words “necrotising fasciitis”. An infection we had no idea exsisted let alone happened to healthy children. My mission is to work as part of The Lee Spark foundation to raise awareness of this infection.
I particularily aim to educate the medical professions and students on the fact that this does happen to children. I also am here to help support any parents who may find themselves part of the NF family. Having a child who has been struck by NF is incredibly difficult because not only are you trying your hardest to care for and support your child but understanding what has happened and looking to the future can also be incredibly difficult.
I am here 24 hours a day 7 days a week should anyone need to speak about NF or want advice and support. You cannot chose which card you are dealt in this life but you can chose what to do with them and I fully intend on raising awareness of NF, saving lives and improving the after care of those who have been affected
Robin Grant
Trustee: Focused on raising awareness through presentations.
Dear all,
I was more than pleased when Dee asked me if I would like to be a trustee of the charity. I know I have raised awareness by running in a few events raising money for The Lee Spark NF Foundation and helped other Trustees in the Scotland area to raise awareness of NF. I am currently trying hard to direct emails to the correct departments to offer to give a presentation of my survival of NF.
I fully respect the charity and I know I too am respected by you all. We are all aware how devastating NF affects all our lives, and I am sure I will always try my very best by supporting where I can.
Robert Wilkie
Trustee: working with survivors and bereaved to raise awareness of necrotising fasciitis
After being introduced to the Lee Spark NF foundation by its Scottish ambassador I was able to discover much about the condition Necrotizing fasciitis than I ever knew before; most importantly I discovered I wasn’t alone in my continuing battle with the effects of this dreadful infection.
It is I believe extremely important to raise awareness of Necrotising fasciitis. I am a great believer In the saying together we can make a difference and that is what the foundation is doing.
Tim Hayden
US Ambassador
Tim Hayden is a Necrotizing Fasciitis (NF) survivor from Owensboro Kentucky USA. In 2016, 10 years after he survived NF, Tim started an online support group with the goal of providing comfort, care and information for NF survivors, their loved ones and those families whose loved ones didn’t survive.
In 2017, Tim co-founded the Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation, a non-profit organization which creates and distributes educational materials to the medical community and the general public to spread NF awareness and to expedite diagnosis to help save lives. This outreach includes speaking to local and regional hospitals and doctors offices to help, The Steep podcast and fundraising events, including an annual 5K run.
Tim met Dee Cartledge, the founder of the Lee Spark Foundation, after the start of the online organisation. Dee and Tim have since teamed up to combine their vast resources and events to spread awareness of what NF is, how to recognise it and early detection.
Lauren Newland-Nell GMBPs
Trustee
I have worked in the complex wound care industry for many years and first encountered necrotising fasciitis as a disease over sixteen years ago. Most recently, while completing my master’s degree in psychology, with a focus on the psychological impact on wound healing, I met Dee Cartledge and learned about the remarkable Lee Sparkes NF Foundation. The organisation is dedicated to the education and support for clinicians treating this disease, survivors living with its consequences, and their families who provide vital support. When Dee invited me to serve as a Trustee and assist in offering trauma support for individuals affiliated with the Lee Sparkes Foundation, I was eager to accept, as their values closely resonate with mine. It is a privilege to join such a committed team.
Emma Lewin
Trustee
My name is Emma, I’m from Liverpool and I am a survivor of Necrotising fasciitis who is so proud to be a trustee for The Lee Spark Necrotising Fasciitis Foundation.
In July 2013 at the age of 19 I contracted necrotising fasciitis and spent five and a half weeks in Southport Hospital, where I underwent three surgeries and was put in a medically induced coma. During my recovery, my infectious disease nurse, Dominic told me about Doreen the founder of this charity after attending one of her talks and passed on her details to me , saying she could help me through recovery. That introduction changed everything, and here we are today — recovered, but forever changed by my experience with necrotising fasciitis.
Since then, I have attended many events held by the charity and even helped plan our 2025 and 2026 charity balls. I wanted to give something back for the support the charity has given me and so many others, so I planned a skydive and actually went through with it (I still don’t know how — I just kept telling myself the only way out is down!).
Along the way, I met some incredible people who helped me continue my recovery and rebuild my confidence we have a great community.
After recovering from necrotising fasciitis, I went on to complete a four-year forensic science degree, enjoy holidays in Spain, Tunisia and Egypt, and I got my little dog Maverick, who is my best friend. I’m really looking forward to seeing what the future holds for the charity and being part of its journey.
Diane Fraser
Trustee
Hi, I’m Diane and a Necrotising Fasciitis survivor and honoured to be a trustee of the charity that gave me so much hope after contracting this disease.
I caught NF after being bitten by ‘something’ whilst on holiday in Norfolk. My husband stopped at a hospital on our way home and we got told I would have died in the car if he hadn’t.
I had 32 surgeries in one hospital then was transferred to a different one for a skin graft and was under the outpatient department for a further 2 years.
I found the charity and, with the help of Dee, survived the worst time of my life.
I was honoured when Dee asked me to become a trustee and said yes without even thinking about it.
I am one of the Event Co-ordinators along with Emma Lewin and have also just taken on the role of dealing with the Presentations the charity gives as we still need to get the word out to medical professionals about Necrotising Fasciitis and the symptoms.
Medical Team
Androulla Efstratiou
Visiting Professor Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, London
Androulla Efstratiou was awarded a doctorate, PhD, in medical microbiology by the University of London in 1987 and appointed to the post of Senior Microbiologist in 1989 to the then Public Health Laboratory Service, where she specialised in streptococcal infections and vaccine preventable disease, focusing on diphtheria. In June 1998 to the present day, she was officially appointed as Director of the newly designated WHO Global Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Diphtheria and Streptococcal Infections.
Androulla is currently a Consultant Public Health Microbiologist within the National Infection service at Public Health England, where the WHO Collaborating Centre is situated. She was awarded a Visiting Professorship at Imperial College Faculty of Medicine in June 2012; Adjunct Professor at the European University School of Medicine, Cyprus (since 2018) and most recently Visiting Professor to the University of Cyprus Medical School. Other appointments also include WHO Adviser/Consultant on diphtheria and streptococcal infections, project leader for various national and international projects on streptococcal infections, project leader for the European Diphtheria programmes, Past President of the XVIII Lancefield International Symposium on Streptococci Streptococcal Diseases and the PHE European Public Health Microbiology Fellowship Programme Supervisor.
Dr Tom Parks
Clinical Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant
Tom Parks is an infectious diseases consultant and researcher at Imperial College London.
He has worked with the Lee Spark NF Foundation since 2013 when he and Dee developed the Strep Gene study.
His research investigates why some people with strep A infections develop severe complications like Necrotising Fasciitis. This is mostly by studying the genes we inherit from our parents using tools like sequencing. He is also working towards an improved understanding of why children around the world still develop rheumatic fever with the aim of developing better tests and treatments.
Ultimately Tom hopes his work will help bring about a vaccine to prevent strep A infections avoiding the consequences such as NF.
Marina Morgan
Consultant Microbiologist,
Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital NHS Trust
Shiranee Sriskandan
Professor of Infectious Diseases and Infectious Diseases Consultant
Shiranee Sriskandan is Professor of Infectious Diseases at Imperial College London and an Infectious Diseases consultant at Hammersmith and St Mary’s Hospitals. She leads the Gram Positive Pathogenesis research group at Imperial, and is co-director of Imperial’s Centre for Bacteriology Resistance Biology. Her group researches the ways in which Streptococcus pyogenes causes severe disease in patients, and how to prevent and treat this. This includes work on how Strep A is transmitted in outbreaks, how genetic changes in Strep A bacteria affects the risk to patients, and why Strep A causes such a range of infections in children and adults. Understanding these issues helps to provide guidance on how best to prevent outbreaks and treat severe disease. It also supports the development of a Strep A vaccine in the future, which is another research area that the group is working on.
Volunteers
Catherine Dabell
Research co-ordinator & bereavement support
My name is Catherine and in 2022 my Father, Ian, became poorly after he had burnt his hand at work and woke up in pain with it a week later.
After going to the doctors the next day then the hospital he later got diagnosed with Sepsis then Necrotising fasciitis and organ failure and had debridement of his arm. However he didnt recover and shortly after passed away.
As it was sudden and I wanted to educate myself more about Necrotising fasciitis, I found the Lee Sparks Foundation charity. I got in touch with Dee Cartledge the founder of the charity she has helped me, supported me, educated me and has been a great help to me since the passing of my Father.
As a result of gaps in the awareness of Necrotising fasciitis I feel I would like to be involved more.
I want to spread awareness of Necrotising fasciitis and my Father’s story and help other people who are bereaved to feel they are not on their own and can talk to me anytime.
After having talks with Dee she suggested getting involved more in the fabulous working research groups the charity works with. I would find this interesting, so would love to be involved.
She also spoke of the understanding of bereavement support and I know I can, through my experience, support in this way.
Shiranee Sriskandan,
Professor & Honorary Consultant,
Imperial College, London
Shiranee Sriskandan is Professor and Honorary Consultant in the Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College London based at Hammersmith Hospital. She leads the Gram Positive Molecular Pathogenesis Group, who are researching the ways in which the group A streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) causes severe invasive disease and toxic shock. They are particularly interested in the toxins which are made by the group A strep during illnesses like Necrotising Fasciitis, and in developing techniques of improving treatment for this particularly devastating infection.
Information and support
What is Necrotising Fasciitis (NF)
As the only support group for people who have been affected by severe streptococcal infections or necrotising fasciitis, we have an array of information about what NF is as well as the causes and treatments.
Coping with Necrotising Fasciitis
We have a great library of information and links to help you if you are coping with the aftermath of Necrotising Fasciitis, whether you suffered directly or are supporting someone as a family, friend or professional.
Our blog
Discover Adventure: Turn Your Next Adventure Into a Lifeline
Have you ever dreamt of trekking the Yorkshire Three Peaks, walking the Great Wall of China, or cycling from London to Paris? We are thrilled to announce that The Lee Spark NF Foundation has officially partnered with Discover Adventure: one of the UK’s leading...
Introducing Counselling Support for the NF Community
At The Lee Spark NF Foundation, we know that surviving Necrotising Fasciitis—or supporting a loved one through it—is only part of the journey. The physical recovery is often followed by a complex emotional road, where trauma, PTSD, and grief can feel overwhelming to...
Look Good, Do Good: Why Supporting Us Through Merchandise Matters
At The Lee Spark NF Foundation, we are often asked: "How can I help if I don't have time to volunteer or the stamina for a marathon?" The answer is simple, stylish, and sitting right in our shop! Choosing to buy our merchandise is one of the easiest ways to make a...