Katherine was born in August 1998 and diagnosed 18 months later with Smith-Magenis Syndrome (SMS). This rare genetic condition would cause global developmental delay, learning disabilities, difficult behaviours and sleep problems. However, despite the challenges, Katherine has grown into such an incredible person with so much love and joy to give! Now, aged 25, she lives happily in supported accommodation with great opportunities to work, learn new skills and enjoy a busy social life!

We are so grateful to the Smith-Magenis Foundation for their support and guidance over the years, in particular, the bi-annual conferences which have been invaluable to us, especially in the early years and showed the way forward.

Katherine’s Grandpa sadly passed away in 2022. Unable to achieve his wish of climbing Snowdon with Katherine, we promised that we would and on September 9th we plan to fulfil that promise: for him and for the SMS Foundation.

The SMS Foundation, the heart of our small community, is the first crucial point of call for those needing information and support; to give help and guidance to enable those confronted with this genetic disorder to have the best quality of life available to them.

Thank you to all those involved with the SMS Foundation and to every volunteer of this vital charity. We would not be where we are today - more important, Katherine would not be where she is today - without them.