Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page!

On the 19th July 2025, my wife and I will be walking 50km across the Gower Peninsula in Wales to raise money for the Long Covid Kids Charity:

https://www.longcovidkids.org/

You can find more about the event here.

https://www.ultrachallenge.com/gower-peninsula-challenge/

Our daughter has been living with Long Covid since January 2022. This condition has been completely life-changing for her and for our whole family. Her health, wellbeing, and education have all been severely affected from day one, and continues to be so. Over three years later, she is well away from full recovery, and there are far too many children in a similar position.

Long Covid is not rare*. In fact:

-An estimated 2 million people in the UK have experienced Long Covid.

-Nearly 400,000 people report their daily activities are "limited a lot" by the condition.

-And crucially, many children, like our daughter, continue to suffer often with little recognition or support.

That is why we are supporting Long Covid Kids. This a lifeline for many families. While health and education systems are still catching up, this charity steps in to help where others don’t.

What Long Covid Kids does:

-Raises awareness of Long Covid in children and young people.

-Provides practical support and information for affected families.

-Advocates for better medical care and recognition of paediatric Long Covid.

-Shares data and works with researchers to push forward urgently needed studies.

-Builds community through peer support and storytelling.

What is Long Covid? (Simple Summary with Key Points)

-Long Covid is a long-term illness that develops after a COVID-19 infection, even in people who had mild or no symptoms at the time. It affects multiple organs and can severely disrupt daily life.

Common symptoms include:

-Chronic fatigue (overwhelming exhaustion not relieved by rest)

-Chronic pain (including joint and muscle pain)

-Brain fog (trouble concentrating, slower thinking, headaches)

-Loss of mobility (some people lose the ability to walk, or struggle with weakness or dizziness)

-In some people, including our daughter, ALL of the above symptoms present and severe.

Scientists believe these symptoms may be caused by several underlying mechanisms**, including:

-Immune system disruption: The body may stay “stuck” in an inflamed state, causing ongoing symptoms.

-Persistent virus or viral fragments: Traces of the virus may hide in organs like the gut or brain, keeping the body in a prolonged response.

-Microclots and blood vessel damage: Small blood clots can block oxygen delivery and damage tissues.

-Autoimmunity: The body may start attacking its own healthy cells, mistaking them for threats.

-Nerve damage and brain inflammation: This can lead to issues with movement, memory, and balance.

-There is no single test for Long Covid, and no guaranteed cure.

As an R&D professional, I strongly believe we need more investment in research and development to understand and treat this condition.

Please consider donating – any amount helps.

Thank you for supporting our family and the thousands of others who need this help.

Andrew

* A snapshot view of Long Covid Services across the UK, 2025:

https://www.calameo.com/brand-and-soul/read/000561176764ca62668fd

** Nature Review Microbioology, 2023:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41579-022-00846-2

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