Meet Hope – a much-loved daughter, little sister, and a true fighter.

Hope is 16 , from Swindon and lives with a rare, life-limiting mitochondrial disease called Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex Deficiency. Her body cannot process carbohydrates for energy, so she relies on a strict ketogenic diet that keeps her well and prevents the hundreds of seizures she once had every day.

She is registered blind, uses a wheelchair, is unable to speak, and needs 24/7 care to manage her complex medical needs. She has endured more hospital stays, ambulances and operations than anyone ever should.

And yet—true to her name—Hope shines.

She is not defined by her condition. She didn’t hear the doctor who once said she would never walk or talk. Today, at 16, she is learning to walk with the support of a frame, and although she cannot speak, she uses her “talker” computer to make her wants, needs and personality known loud and clear.

Hope has a radiant smile. She loves her family, sunshine and the feeling of wind on her face. Her favourite things are swimming and listening to stories—all day long. She inspires everyone around her and reminds us daily what truly matters in life.

Team Hope

Hope’s parents are keen runners, and when she was small, they began taking her out in an adapted running buggy. She has since taken part in parkruns , local races and half-marathons.

Supported by friends. the local running community and family , Team Hope has already raised over £43,000 for The Lily Foundation, through cake sales, plane jumps, parkrun takeovers, running events, discos and more.

Why The Lily Foundation Matters

The Lily Foundation gives Hope’s family something priceless: hope for Hope’s future. Their research projects push forward vital understanding of mitochondrial disease. They funded Hope’s larger adapted running buggy, helping Team Hope continue their adventures. But most treasured of all are the family weekends—bringing together medical experts, families, and the extraordinary “Lily family” fighting side by side for children like Hope.