Cathy, calm, cool and confident, faced the camera person and did a brief intro before turning back to Holly. ‘I’m standing here with Holly Renton, known on social media as the Green Goddess, who has a very personal reason for being at this demonstration today. Holly, why don’t you tell us all about it?’

‘My three-year-old nephew Harry has cystic fibrosis,’ Holly began. ‘And because of the hold-up in deciding whether or not a course of potentially life-extending drugs can be prescribed to patients on the National Health Service, he faces an uncertain future.’

‘I understand you’ve had some support from MPs on this issue,’ Cathy, nodding, replied.

Holly shook her head. ‘Unfortunately, that support has also stalled, so more direct action is needed to move the campaign along. It’s great to see so many people here today to support patients with CF, and I hope that this strength of feeling might be of some influence where the conventional routes to government have failed.’

‘And how might viewers become more involved with this campaign, if they want to?’

‘You can sign the petition at gov.uk, which will prompt a debate in Parliament, and, if you want to, you can contact your local Member of Parliament. I wouldn’t hold out much hope that they’ll respond, however.’ For a moment, Holly’s bitterness at the way Charlie had backed off both her and the campaign showed through.

‘I take it you haven’t had much luck through the parliamentary channels, then?’ Cathy probed.

Holly paused, then smiled for the camera. ‘On the contrary, we have had some support from MPs, but, unfortunately, our current MP for Willowbury and Stavenham has chosen to distance himself from the issue, much like his predecessor did.’ That would hurt, Holly thought, if Charlie saw the interview. He hated being compared to Hugo Fitzgerald.

‘And do you have anything you’d like to say to him, while the camera’s rolling?’ Cathy gave her an encouraging smile.

‘I’d rather just concentrate on moving the campaign forward, Cathy,’ Holly said. The temptation to dump Charlie in it onscreen was nearly overwhelming, but Holly knew it would do more harm than good. Better just to focus on the demonstration and the cause itself.

Cathy continued. ‘You’ve been hashtagged The Green Goddess online. How have you found being the face of the campaign?’

Holly laughed. ‘I wouldn’t call myself the face of it at all. It’s better to focus on those who really need these new medications. I’m happy to speak up for CF patients though, since they can’t form a physical group to campaign here themselves because of the risk of cross-infection.’ Holly dug in her bag and found the blown-up photograph of Harry she kept with her for things like this. ‘This is my nephew Harry and these new drugs could potentially extend his life. Isn’t that worth taking a financial risk on?’