Hi! 

In 2020 my sister Tara was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome in the form of physical tics, the tics that Tara experiences started during her mid-late teens and progressively developed into her early twenties which is when she sought a diagnosis. The diagnosis came at a particularly challenging time for Tara as she was just starting out on her professional career as a teacher which I think became a more daunting prospect for her with the increased physical tics she was experiencing and with the added diagnosis of Tourettes.

At the time of diagnosis, and as much as we supported Tara, Tourettes was a relative unknown to our family, we were of course aware of the condition but we were not aware of the effects that it can have on someone’s everyday life mentally and physically and the strength required to manage the condition whilst continuing to manage the many tests that every day life can bring.

What has struck me most since Tara’s diagnosis is her willingness and the effort she has gone to in order to raise awareness of her condition and the effects that it has on so many others. Tara has previously been involved in fundraising activities for Tourettes action which is a fantastic organisation that supports people living with Tourette’s and strives to improve the future lives of those living with Tourette’s.

In March 2021 she embarked on a challenge to run 50 km in one month raising over 800 pounds along the way. My family and I were hugely proud of her for doing this as not only was this a physical challenge but it was something that also took an immense amount of mental strength and self confidence as this was the first time she had been open with those outside of close friends and family about her condition, she had to do this in order to fundraise making various social media posts to wide audiences explaining her Tourettes Journey.

What really was apparent from the start is that perhaps more than even the fundraising itself she wanted to raise awareness of the condition and it was clear from the feedback that she received that raising awareness is of the utmost importance when it comes to Tourettes and improving the lives of those living with the condition.

Tara’s journey has really inspired me and i want to support her in anyway that I can, I recently became aware that Tourettes action had some places in the London Landmarks half marathon and I immediately knew that I wanted to get involved and try and raise some money for this excellent organisation that has given so much help to people including my sister Tara.

I also really want to raise awareness of this condition and help to increase peoples understanding of Tourettes which i believe is highly important in ending some of the stigmas surrounding the condition, increasing the potential for future more efficient treatments of the condition and improving the lives of those living with Tourettes.

i hope that the above gives some insight into my reasons for doing this and as to why I am asking for your kind donations, all of which are of course so greatly appreciated!! 

Thanks everyone for reading!