History Of The Charity

Diane Wynne-Fitzgerald was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2000. She set up a self-help group at King George Hospital, with the help of Dr. Guy Dabrera, her Consultant Rheumatologist and Joan Woolston another RA patient.

The group began meeting in The Rheumatology Department in May 2002 and held meetings twice a month as a self-help group. In 2006 the group rented an office at Cardinal Heenan Centre where they expanded their programme of disease management.

In September 2010 it was registered as a charity and moved to The Cranbrook Centre, Valentines Park, in August 2015.

COVID affected many small charities with ASNet finally moving out of The Cranbrook Centre. During the pandemic an online newsletter was created to help members keep in touch and inform them of current issues. During this time the charity created a YouTube account and conducted various interactive events such as Yoga, wellbeing with a selection of talks including healthy eating and Ayurvedic medicine with an informal Zoom session from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays. The Newsletter and the Zoom sessions have continued to this day. In September, 2025, ASNet will be launching a 4 month pilot face- to-face meeting in Acle, Norfolk.