Julie was only in her 20’s when she fell ill, suffering wheelchair bound for over 10 years. Despite countless tests doctors were at a loss to explain what was wrong with her.
Julie’s brother, Steve King (who ran a technology company - Black Swan), refused to accept his sister’s prognosis. He and his team analysed millions of internet conversations looking to match her symptoms with those of others, alongside a daily diary looking for patterns in how she felt and what she did.
They identified two rarer conditions which matched her symptoms and armed with this new information she was diagnosed, by doctors, with a rare form of Parkinson’s.
Treatment quickly began and Julie's life has been transformed.
This inspired start of the White Swan charity.
We want to help more people like Julie.
We believe that by connecting the collective wisdom and experiences of people across the world via the internet, we can help everyone to a diagnosis, like we did for Julie.
Our Million Minds campaign is to raise funds to scale-up our technology so that we can help not just one person but the millions who are suffering undiagnosed.
Perhaps you are one of them or you know someone who is?
The technology scans the millions of conversations and articles on the internet 24/7 looking to match symptoms with those of others, giving a bespoke window to the world’s knowledge.
Over time it will also help those in need capture and spot patterns in their own symptoms, enabling them to share this information with their doctors and connect them to others who are dealing with the same challenges.
Our aim is to support sufferers towards a diagnosis using technology.
Helping those in need help themselves, help those who can help them, and help others in the process.
We believe no-one should suffer unnecessarily, not knowing what is wrong with them or what to do about it. This is something we want to change. Together.
Please help us by donating to our Million Minds campaign.