On Friday 25th August we will set off on a 17 day journey that will take us the entire length of the UK mainland TWICE!!! We will be driving our beloved Tuk Tuk about 2000 miles (3200km) from Lands End in Cornwall, through the west country, into the west midlands, up into the north of England, past the lake district, into Scotland, all the way up through the highlands to John O’Groats, the most northern tip of British mainland and then all the way back down again.

While we are in Scotland, Jo will also paddleboard the entire length of the Caledonian Canal, a stretch of water joining the east coast to west coast of Scotland. Starting at Fort William, Jo will travel 60 miles (100km) north-east through Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness to reach Inverness.

The reason for these 2 acts of madness is to raise money and awareness for ADHD UK.

Last year, at 38 Jo was diagnosed with ADHD. Despite it being a long and complicated journey, the diagnosis and access to medication have been life changing. It helped her understand herself better, and gave her a perspective on the reasons for some of her struggles. It helped her realise her strengths and approach weaknesses with kindness rather than self loathing. We also have several friends who have been diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood, so this is a cause that is very close to home for us.

ADHD is a neurologically based condition which can often wreak havoc in a person’s life if not treated. People with ADHD show a persistent pattern of difficulty regulating attention and/or hyperactivity–impulsivity that interferes with day-to-day functioning, motivation and learning.

Unfortunately the awareness of ADHD is still very limited, even amongst professionals in organisations such as the NHS making it difficult to get a correct diagnosis. The condition has a lot of negative stigma around it from a lack of understanding and incorrect information, and is heavily underdiagnosed in girls and women due to differences in how their symptoms present when compared to boys and men with ADHD.

ADHD UK is a charity funded solely from personal donations. They work to reduce the stigma that some attach to those with ADHD, build awareness, and undertake or fund research that will have a meaningful positive impact on those with ADHD.