My late father, Nicholas Kotch, was an amazing journalist and Africanist as well as a loving father, husband and brother.

In his later life Nicholas was diagnosed with Ataxia as well as a few other issues. Ataxia remains relatively poorly understood. It causes a loss in balance / gait disturbance which can eventually become crippling, as in the case of Nick, as well as bringing on cognitive and memory problems.

While related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Dementia are more visible and attract high rates of research funding, Ataxia research is much less recognised.

My family and I would like to appeal to anyone who is willing and able to give what they can to this important cause as the money that goes to Ataxia UK directly funds research into the condition and supporting families of sufferers with less resources to cope.

This page is a continuation of the original page set up for my father at the time of his funeral: https://www.justgiving.com/page/nick-kotch?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL