Hi my name is Emma.

My sister Millie, aged 14, has suffered with joint and muscle pain since she was 6 years old and has been recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (Chronic widespread pain syndrome). She suffers from fatigue and severe pain flares across her whole body. It is common for Millie to be bed bound due to her pain for hours or days, meaning it has a great impact on her daily life. She often has to miss school, and unable to do walk or stand for a reasonable period of time, even with therapy, physio and a combination of strong painkillers.

I'm fundraising for the Royal National Hospital of Rheumatic Disease in Bath, which deals with a range of pain related syndromes.

Millie is incredibly lucky to have received a place on the adolescent residential programme (ages 11-18) as she has been on the reserve list for nearly a year. She is currently undergoing a vital three week intensive course to try and help her deal with her diagnosis and pain management. She is staying at the RNHRD with 5 other children her age all suffering similar chronic pain illnesses.

All funding will go to the hospital in order to raise awareness of invisible chronic pain illnesses like fibromyalgia and to support the programmes in place which can give individuals the treatment needed in order to deal with their illness.
The number of programmes have been reduced in recent years due to cuts in funding, resulting in closure of the accommodation facilities at Christmas, meaning patients like my sister have to stay at the hospital itself which has limited facilities and lengthened waiting list times for programmes.

Please donate anything you can. There are a range of programmes, essential for people of all ages with a range of chronic pain illnesses. However they are reliant on fundings to keep running! By donating you enable the hospital to run more intensive programs, which will help more people like my sister to manage their illness.

Thank you for your support!!