When my daughter Kim was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) it came as a shock. I'd never heard of FND, neither had my friends and family.

However FND effects thousands of people in the UK. It covers a wide variety of symptoms including limb weakness, tremors, non epileptic seizures, sensory and cognitive problems, and speech problems. As most people can have a combination of these symptoms, it's often difficult for patients and health professionals to understand what's going on.

FND occurs due to a problem with the functioning of the nervous system and is thought to be the result of the brain’s inability to send and receive signals properly. Anyone can be affected and the disorder can be as debilitating as Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis.

FND Action is a small charity that thinks big and I hope to raise funds so that they can continue to expand their online support network for those diagnosed with FND, and of course raise awareness.

Camino de Santiago, known in English as The Way of Saint James, is a 500 mile pilgrimage route from the French Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain.
I've been backpacking along the route in stages, staying in hostels and the odd Monastery. I plan to complete it this spring when I walk the last 130 miles from Ponferrada to Santiago de Compostela.

To learn more  about FND please visit www.fndaction.org.uk.