This July/August for Challenge for PANS PANDAS UK, the PANS PANDAS UK charity has asked us to take on our biggest challenge yet - to collectively walk the length of the UK - 874 miles together. They would like us to demonstrate how families across the length (and breadth!) of the UK are affected by these conditions. Every step the PANS PANDAS community take will boost awareness of these conditions. Every donation received will go toward the charities work to push for desperately needed change. We will walk together as a family during July and August this year and will collectively walk 50 miles towards the total of 874 miles.

PANS and PANDAS are conditions that often appear very suddenly and affect the physical and mental health of children and young adults. They develop in the wake of common infections (such as Covid-19, chicken pox, influenza or strep A/scarlet fever in PANDAS cases), when the infection subsequently causes a misdirected immune response and brain inflammation.

Our 6-year-old son Luke’s acute onset of symptoms were in September 2022 following Covid-19 and strep A/scarlet fever infections. Last winter was his 3rd winter with this condition and it has been the hardest. Just recently in May, Luke had an ear infection and his symptoms flared again.

This small but mighty charity is absolutely key in supporting people with this condition, siblings (like our 8 year daughter Niamh), parents, health and education professionals. They are the biggest advocate for the PANS PANDAS community in this country and push for much needed change.

By increasing awareness of these conditions, we will move closer to establishing clinical guidelines and effective treatment pathways as well as all the other support that is needed for families impacted by these conditions. Together, we can ensure that no family faces the challenges of PANS and PANDAS alone.

If you are reading this then it is good to be raising awareness of these conditions and the challenges that families face getting a diagnosis, treatment and support. If after reading this, you decide to sponsor us taking part in this challenge – thank you.

The children always say it best so please listen to the PANS and PANDAS UK One Voice Project video on the link below (please scroll down a bit to find the video):-

https://panspandasuk.org/support-resources/for-educational-professionals/

The link below has more information on the PANS and PANDAS conditions and symptoms. This information may enable you to help someone that is not aware of this condition – early detection and treatment is key.

https://panspandasuk.org/what-are-pans-and-pandas/

Thank you ❤️ .