Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

In the summer of 2005 I was diagnosed with Antiphospholipid Syndrome (Hughes Syndrome), after having a massive DVT which stretched from my right ankle and top of my left leg up to my belly button, this happened in the Spring of 2004 which had followed a couple of blood clots that occurred in my arm which were missed by the doctors and we only learned later that was what they were. Although I was fortunate in getting my diagnoses it was a very difficult road in getting it and getting the appropriate treatment was a long wait as most of the doctors and consultants we came across just didn’t know.

With my DVT I was told that they hardly ever see them this large and let alone the person surviving them, so I feel very gratefully that I did.  Also I had consultants tell me I’d never be able to walk very far again.  Over the years I have been slowly making progress and to the point this year where I plan to complete the 4 mile walk to raise money for the Hughes Syndrome Foundation.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome is also known as APS or Hughes Syndrome after the man who led the medical team which discovered the condition in 1983.  Where there is a danger of blood clotting in young people usually aged between 20 to 50.  In the UK alone, Hughes Syndrome affects at least 600,000 people.

This “sticky blood” can cause a wide variety of symptoms from headaches, migraines, visual disturbances, fatigue, memory loss and dizziness to life-threatening and potentially fatal events including strokes, deep vein thrombosis (DVTs), heart attacks, and pulmonary embolisms (blood clots on the lung).  Hughes Syndrome is also one of the leading causes of recurrent miscarriage and can cause infertility and still births.

The good news is that once it is diagnosed, the condition can usually be treated –in the case of pregnancy, the chance of having a successful birth raises from 20% to 80%.  The bad news is that as the condition is relatively new and, although Hughes Syndrome has been described as one of the most important new diseases of our time, this potentially fatal condition is dangerously under diagnosed and not always managed appropriately which is why raising awareness is one of the key aims of the Hughes Syndrome Foundation Charity.

The charity also desperately needs help with fundraising in order to help pay for ongoing medical research into Hughes Syndrome. They do not receive any government funding and have to rely on their supporters to keep the small charity afloat.  The medical research aims to gain more understanding of the condition so that best treatment can be given to patients and, ultimately, to find a cure for the disease.

This is why Me, Spencer, Kathy & Mike, plus others are participating in this sponsored walk.

So please dig deep and donate now.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.