Ataxia UK

The Exeter Campaign: Beka is 15 years old, and has Friedreich’s ataxia. She was once an award-winning horse rider, but can no longer ride. This is her story.

The Exeter Campaign: Meet Bex, the face of the Exeter campaign. Bex has long been involved with the Ataxia UK support network, starting her own Branch of the charity in Exeter eleven years ago.

The Exeter Campaign: Rachel Lyons, Lord Mayor of Exeter 2013-14, was instrumental in helping Ataxia UK and the Exeter Branch to fund an awareness campaign by choosing us as her charity of the year.

The Exeter Campaign: Phil has episodic ataxia, which can attack at any time without warning. The unpredictability of his condition has limited what he’s able to do for work as well as pleasure.

Hi Adam,
Thanks for your help with this! I would like to feature the following content in a ‘read more’ expandable block beneath the existing text on this listing page: https://www.ataxia.org.uk/Blogs/our-friends-blog/Category/members-blog
Many thanks indeed!
All the best,
Steph

Nigel Davis was diagnosed with idiopathic spino-cerebellar ataxia (SCA with an unknown cause) at 17. He was able to manage his condition for some time, but after teaching for 19 years, he was forced to retire.

Richard Brown was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia at 14. It had a devastating impact on what things he thought he could do in life. Here, Richard takes us through his thought process in becoming a parent with ataxia.

Nicola writes about her son Jordan, who has Friedreich’s ataxia, and her experiences as a parent of a child with the condition.

Frances was diagnosed with spino-cerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) in 2009 at 49. Her symptoms were worsening, but she didn’t want to believe anything was wrong. Frances tells us about acceptance, the changes she has had to make for her career and how she manages her symptoms.

Will Martin is 27 and was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia whilst at secondary school. Will talks to us about how ataxia has isolated him from his peers, made him deflect from education and shares his crowdfunding goals for a new wheelchair.

Austin Fredericks was diagnosed with SCA in 2011. He’s a qualified electrician, has faced prejudice by people who assume he isn’t fit to work, and has even been taken to court for ‘drunk driving’ whilst sober.

Laura Bishop is 25 and was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia ten years ago. Having dealt with the difficulty of facing the condition as a teenager and the trauma of two serious operations, Laura has come to terms with her ataxia, but is still fearful about what the future will hold…

Tallulah is 19 and has Ataxia with Oculomotor Apraxia Type 2 (AOA2), one of the rarest forms of ataxia. It took a full decade to receive a diagnosis, and she’s already fundraising for ataxia research.

Toyah Wordsworth discusses how volunteering and employment gave her the confidence to create her own business, and a board game to help younger people become further educated about disability.

Michelle Brown tells us about the many races she ran in very quick succession this autumn, in support of her father and fundraising for Ataxia UK.