An exciting step forward for TOFS

Welcome to the new TOFS website!

Whatever your interest in Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula and its associated conditions, I hope you find this new site useful and informative.

In 1995, before many people even knew what a website was, let alone used one, TOFS volunteer, Vicki Martin built and published our old site. That it has survived until now and has still been much loved and used to this day is a testament to her skill and vision, and for that, and on behalf of all the many, many people who have got so much out of it over the last 12 years, Vicki - Thank You!

Vicki’s site lives on because we’ve lifted much of the content of this site from it. We’ve tried to put together a modern, intuitive and easy-to-use website, but this is only a beginning – over the coming weeks and months we’ll be developing the site with additional information, articles, features and functions. We’ll provide links to other useful organisations and sources of information. We’re also planning to convert many of our ‘PDF’ booklets and leaflets into ‘HTML’ format, to make it easier for you to find the information you need through our site’s search facility.

Look out for ‘RSS’ and ‘Atom’ feeds to keep you updated on developments on the site and new postings on the forums. Our Family Liaison Officer, Helene will be developing the new forums. We’ve had to start again here, but Helene will be transferring some of the more interesting threads so you’ll still be able to benefit from them. Please join and contribute to the new forums – we really want TOFS to function as a community of interested and involved people. And spam free too, thanks to the new site’s programming platform!

The TOFS Council of Management has also decided that to promote membership of the charity, and help provide a sustainable income stream, the site should have a members’ only area. We’ll keep you fully updated on our progress with this.

My vision is for what you see now to continue to develop so that the TOFS website becomes a truly global resource and centre of excellence for professionals and families caring for children with Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula or an associated condition.

A huge ‘Thank You!’ is due to Pudsey Bear and the BBC Children in Need Appeal for their very generous donation, without which this site just wouldn’t have happened.

Thanks are also due to Camilla Zajac of Green Light Copywriting, Alex Marsden of Splash! Design and Paul Bell of Boiler Room Digital for their professional input and hard work.

Happy surfing!

Mike Brown – TOFS Trustee (Publications)