Martyn is a survivor of Guillain Barre Syndrome (pronounced Gee-yan Ba-ray).
In November 2019 he was totally paralyzed and fighting for his life. Within days, he was unable to move, swallow properly or breath properly.

Even today he may look fine but you can’t see the neuropathy, the pain, the muscle weakness or the fatigue that some days overwhelms him.

Because GBS is rare, the medical profession knows very little about it’s long term affects.
But GBS is not rare to him or to the thousands who get it every year.
No one recovers 100% from GBS but many GBS patients are still being told this.

Guillain Barre Syndrome can strike anyone, at any age. GBS is an autoimmune response that causes the body to attack the myelin sheath that envelopes nerves.
GBS is the number one cause of rapid onset paralysis in the world.

May is Guillain Barre Syndrome Awareness Month.

Raising awareness of a rare disease is never easy. Everyone knows someone affected by stroke, cancer or dementia, and we've all heard of the big charities that do fantastic work to help people with these conditions. But until someone you know is affected by Guillain-Barré syndrome or CIDP, chances are that you've never heard of it before.That's where GAIN comes in, providing information and support when it is needed most. It's really important that people know there is help available if they have been recently-diagnosed with GBS or CIDP. And that's where you come in. Your donation could pay towards leaflets and information packs for hospitals and surgeries throughout the UK and Ireland, signposting patients and their families to the help and support offered by GAIN. It could pay for a communication aid, or travel expenses during months of daily hospital visits. Your donation means that GAIN will continue to be there when they are needed. Thank you x