Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am doing this for my 9 month old son George who is living with Septo Optic Dysplasia, Addisons Disease (secondary insufficiency) and Hypothyroidism. George deteriorated and failed to improve after birth so after various tests, xrays and an MRI he was diagnosed at 9 days. The MRI showed he was missing his pituitary gland and that his optic nerves are small and twisted, and along with his blood test results we were given his diagnosis.

We are just at the beginning of his journey and still learning how to live life to the full with George. We are optimistic for George’s future and are excited to see him grow and develop. George's conditions are very serious, rare and complex, however it is his Addisons condition which petrifies Leah and I, due to the inevitably of him becoming ill and having a crisis. Therefore we want to raise awareness of this life threatening condition as it is so rare and to raise money for the charity as there is still so much to research, learn and develop.

Addison’s Disease is a rare endocrine condition where the  body does not produce enough of the essential steroid hormone - cortisol. These hormones keep the body functioning properly and without these the organs will begin to shut down.

It is essential that people with Addison’s take their medication every day, at the exact right time of day – this is essential for life. They should also receive ongoing medical support, with regular appointments and blood tests with their endocrinologist to review their condition. As Addison’s disease is so rare, sometimes other medical professionals such as GPs or nurses are not very familiar with it or with the need for daily steroid medication, which can cause delay in getting vital urgent treatment.

Around 8% of people with Addison's Disease experience an adrenal crisis each year; some people more frequently than others. It's vitally important to learn the signs of an impending crisis and what to do in this medical emergency. A crisis can come about when the normal daily dose of hydrocortisone is not enough to cope with either a raise in temperature from an infection or virus, an injury, vomiting or diarrhoea, or extreme emotional stress. During these times the body will normally increase the cortisol amount enabling the body to cope and recover, but without this the body will go into an adrenal crisis. An adrenal crisis is a life-threatening situation and requires immediate medical treatment with an emergency injection of hydrocortisone and monitoring at a hospital until fully recovered. To survive it is essential to receive emergency treatment in time.

Addison’s disease affects approximately 1 in 10,000 people, meaning an estimated 300 - 350 new cases are diagnosed each year across the UK. This makes it roughly 300 times rarer than diabetes, another endocrine condition that sometimes occurs alongside Addison’s.

The charity works to provide practical support to people affected by Addison's Disease in a number of ways :

- advice & information for patients & their families
- emergency medical advice for patients
- information for healthcare professionals caring for people with Addison's
- lobbying the NHS, HSE, policy-makers and influencers to consider the needs of people with Addison's
- medical research

They are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (non-profit) registered with the Charity Commission. They are governed by a team of volunteer trustees who are mainly living with the condition themselves.

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. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.