Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

We have chosen to support Ataxia UK as our charity for 2024 and will be taking part in several fundraising events throughout the year to raise as much money as we can for this important charity, which was nominated by one of our Case Managers, Gemma Sheen, who herself has Ataxia.

‘Ataxia’ is an umbrella term for a group of neurological disorders that affect balance, coordination and speech; it is thought that there are approximately 10,000 adults in the UK with Ataxia. There are many different types of Ataxias that can affect people in different ways, but all have a major impact on daily living such as washing, dressing, walking, eating, sleep and levels of fatigue.

Ataxia UK not only fund research to find treatments or cures for the different types of Ataxias, but they have also accredited three specialist Ataxia Centres in the UK. They offer help to individuals struggling to find a correct diagnosis, run a helpline and advocacy service, hold support groups for both patients and their families/carers, and offer advice on such things as benefits, housing, and employment rights.

As well as having Ataxia herself, Gemma is a volunteer and fundraiser with Ataxia UK, and we would like to help her raise as much money as we can for this charity which has offered her so much support in the early days of her diagnosis.

Donating through Just Giving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe, and they will never sell them on or send unwanted emails, so it’s a great way to donate.