I was first diagnosed with Pan Uveitis (idiopathic) (an inflammatory eye disease that produces swelling and destroys eye tissue leading to visual impairment with no identified cause) in 2015 when I was 15 years old. It begun with eye redness and pain. At first we just thought I had conjunctivitis and started taking eye drops for that. However, the pain become more severe and I was urged to go to the hospital to be checked out.

 After hours of testing, eyedrops, scans and photographs of my eye, I was informed by the medical professionals at New Cross Hospital, that if I had not come on that day I would have completely lost my vision in that eye. It was terrifying to be told this as a 15 year old girl, studying to prepare herself for the life ahead. Following the diagnosis, more tests were undertaken in order to locate the cause of this disease. I have been tested for every known cause, however all tests results have come back clear. Due to this, the only assistance that could be provided was to try different ways of treating the symptoms in the hope that one form of treatment would be successful. 

In the past 6 years I have tried different steroid treatments which all have their own risks and side effects. This included oral steroids which I could never sleep on and also suffered with tremors as well as other side effects. I also trailed injections into the eye, which were not effective. This was then followed by surgery  which involved an implant being inserted into my eye, this surgery was effective in treating the inflammation for three months and therefore I have had to endure this surgery every three months in an attempt to save my vision in my eye and reduce the inflammation and pain. A result of having so many of these surgeries is that, it scars my vision and therefore my vision reduces each time. There are other side effects and risks of more eye issues such as cataracts which I also had. Here I had to make a decision whether to keep the cataract until it worsened my vision more or remove it and never be able to focus out that eye and find teenage girl things like makeup hard to do. I had this removed, such removal tends to improve vision in older eyes but reduce it in younger eyes. 

 Six years on and the eye disease seems to be coming back quicker and more severe every time. Although I have managed to find something that treats my symptoms for an short period, there is not yet a treatment that will cure my condition. My vision is permanently scarred and I will never fully get all of my vision back, but more treatments for people with cases like mine can be made. 

The goal is to fundraise money for the National Eye Research Centre by doing a 25 mile walk accompanied by my cousin Luke Elcock, Step-father Wayne Everiss and Step-brother Sam Simmons. We will begin our walk from the New Cross Hospital Eye Department where I have my treatment and shall be walking down the canals to Kidderminster. We would like to make a change, even if its a small one! This money shall be going towards the Uveitis Research Projects which are looking to become more familiar with this condition and assist in the development of more efficient treatments and prevention methods going forward. 

I have chosen the National Eye Research Centre as it has the top track record for funding Uveitis research in the UK. They have worked with the University of Bristol for 20 years who are at the forefront of uveitis research globally and have had significant breakthroughs in other cases involving uveitis. 

Any donations will be really appreciated. 

This could potentially help so many people. But even if there is a chance that this will help someone or pay for a researchers wages for just one day, it is worth it!

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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.