Our amazing daughter, Isla, was diagnosed with Tourette’s at just 8 years old. It took us two long years of fighting for answers, and when we finally received her diagnosis, we were simply given a link to the Tourettes Action website and sent on our way. At the time, it felt like we were in a dark and lonely place - nobody we knew had Tourette’s, and everything we saw online focused on swearing tics. We’ve since learned that this is actually very rare, but sadly it’s the image the media often portrays.

Isla is determined to change that perception. Tourette’s isn’t a joke - it’s exhausting. Isla lives with tics that make her jump, throw things, hit herself, repeat words, and shout random phrases. She often feels misunderstood, but she’s passionate about raising awareness and helping people see what Tourette’s really is.

Tourettes Action has been a lifeline for us. Their support through social media, their website, and events has been invaluable. This year, we were lucky enough to attend Tic Fest, a festival for children with Tourette’s and their families. For the first time, Isla felt surrounded by people who truly understood her. She was able to be herself, made amazing friends, and has built lasting bonds with other children who share her experiences.

As a family, we want to give back to Tourettes Action for everything they do. Isla is hosting a bingo fundraiser evening on 3rd October to raise both awareness and funds.

And because Isla faces challenges every single day, I’ve decided to set myself a challenge too - I’ll be running the London Landmarks Half Marathon in April 2026 (despite having never run in my life 😅).

So… here we are. I was going to keep this whole thing quiet (mainly so no one could see me fail spectacularly), but now I’m telling the world - because if I put it out there, I can’t back out 🤣.

We’d be so grateful for your support. Every donation will help Tourettes Action continue their incredible work, supporting families like ours and giving children like Isla a chance to feel understood.