Ataxia is a relatively unknown neurological disease that has affected my family over the last 15 years. I aim to run the London Marathon to raise funds that can go towards research and improvements in diagnosis and cure so that this can be treated in the future. Ataxia is a condition you can have from birth or be diagnosed with much later in life.

My dad and uncle were both diagnosed with Ataxia around 15 years ago having inherited we think from their mum. This also raises the possibility that myself, sister and our children will also have this condition later in life.

My dad and uncle both have falls with my dad having knocked himself out after a particularly bad fall. They also have slurred speech and “foggy heads” with extreme nausea and headaches occurring regularly that they find very debilitating. My dad has recently had problems with his hands, finding it difficult to write and hold things. He struggles to walk these days (as does my uncle) and uses a stick to help him. This is getting worse as the months progress.

They both see a Neuro Consultant once a year although there is no treatment or cure as neither know what type of Ataxia they have even though their genes have been studied for some time now. As a result myself and immediate family cannot be tested to see if we may end up with it.

I feel it’s important for me to run and raise money and awareness of this condition as having seen it first hand it impacts life terribly so anything I can raise to help with the research I will.