UPDATE: Our fundraiser has been rescheduled for Sun 28 June, when we'll also be climbing in memory of Noam's dad, who sadly passed away on 30 May. ♥️

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In 1989 I was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). In 2015 I found out I also had Polycystic Liver Disease (often associated with PKD).

Polycystic Kidney Disease is the fourth most common cause of kidney failure in the UK and affects 70,000 people. The type of PKD I have is genetic. My dad had it. He was lucky enough to have a kidney transplant (from my mum) and lived to the grand age of 79.

When my dad was diagnosed with PKD back in the 1980s, my sisters and I were tested too. The doctors said don’t worry, by the time you get ill, there should be a cure.

Forty years on, not only is there no “cure”, the disease is worse than we thought, with additional complications. In fact, they no longer routinely test children of parents with PKD - if you are young and asymptomatic, they say it may be better not to know.

My test results have been up and down this year. I’ve gone from needing a kidney transplant asap, to “maybe you have another 3 years”.

When the time comes, Noam will be donating a kidney. We're not a direct match (like mum and dad were), so we'll be part of an innovative paired/ pooled kidney donation scheme.

While the light is green I’m going to do this climb.

We'll be climbing Snowdon in the dark - setting off just after midnight - to raise awareness and help find a cure for this life-threatening illness. Noam and I will do this with other families impacted by PKD. Please help us raise money for PKD research.

Thanks and love,

Jemima & Noam x