Rushden Lakes featured in National Charity Campaign
Photos taken at the Rushden Lakes leisure complex were released this week as part of Psoriasis UK’s national awareness campaign, showing how psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis can affect people throughout their lives.
Local residents Pete Hughes and Lisa Russon are also featured in the images, which were taken as part of this year’s Psoriasis Awareness Week. The annual campaign began on World Psoriasis Day (Thursday 29 October) and explored the theme of age. Featuring children, teenagers, adults and older people, the new images support the charity’s refreshed identity following its recent name change to Psoriasis UK.
Pete, one of the local stars of the campaign, has had psoriasis for 20 years. About his experience with the condition, he said: “I developed psoriasis around 20 years ago, while recovering from a shoulder operation. My physiotherapist actually spotted it on my stomach, and it has since spread across my body. I would say the biggest impact would be having to change what I’d like to wear. Working as a wedding photographer, my scalp psoriasis can sometimes look like I’m shedding on my darker clothes, which can be embarrassing at times.”
Also featured in the campaign is Northamptonshire-based Lisa, who can be seen in the photos enjoying time with her family.
Both took part in the photoshoot to showcase what 'real life' looks like with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Other photos show participants visiting coffee shops, walking in nature and shopping with friends. The images will be shared widely during Awareness Week alongside stories from some of the photoshoot participants.
Psoriasis UK Deputy Chief Executive Laura Stevenson said: “Psoriasis Awareness Week is a very important time of year in which we can focus on specific aspects of the condition. This year's theme is age, shining a much-needed spotlight on the ways psoriasis may affect a person throughout their life.
“Throughout the campaign, we'll be sharing images from our most recent photoshoot showing how people at every age can continue to live their lives with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. While it may seem small, this representation shows that psoriasis is just one part of someone’s story. It proves that it does not have to stand in the way of living a happy, active life.”
Psoriasis Awareness Week 2026 also featured a ‘Walk and Talk’ pilot event, hosted in Northampton, which marked the beginning of a national community initiative that aims to connect people with psoriasis across the UK.