Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Nick was a brilliant, funny, loving and caring person whose life was tragically cut short by his experience of bipolar disorder. I'm setting up the Nick Wilkes Fund with my husband John to support an outstanding young investigator, Dr Martijn van den Heuvel of Utrecht University, who is mapping the brain to help diagnosis of this devastating illness as an MQ Fellow. The competition for MQ Fellows Awards runs every year so this doesn't have to be a one-off event. We've over-reached £28,000, our original target as Nick lived for 28 years, but we don't have to stop there, so please help by giving now in memory of our wonderful son. 

Martijn's message

"My team and I are working towards a deeper understanding of the structure and function of the brain so that we might better be able to diagnose and understand mental health conditions, both in the sense of accuracy and place. One of the projects we did this year was to combine genetics and neuroimaging to deepen our understanding of the differences between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Ultimately, this means better treatments and outcomes for everyone living with a mental health condition. Thank you for your kind and ongoing support for my work."

The Wanderer: two concerts to celebrate Nick's life

Nick's lifelong friend Ed Ballard generously organised two concerts to celebrate Nick's life and raise money for his fund, at Wolfson College Oxford and at St Andrew's Church Holborn. The musicians- singers Ed, Sophia Larsson, Rozana Madylus and Thomas Elwin, and pianist Richard Leach gave outstanding performances. They visited in song Nick's favourite places and captured his changing moods in a hugely ambitious programme. The music still rings in our heads, and many in the audiences said it had been the most moving musical experience they had ever enjoyed. What's more, we raised £2,513.68 for MQ in ticket sales! Our warmest thanks to all who made these exceptional experiences possible, especially Professor Dame Hermione Lee, President, and Louise Gordon, Conference and Events Manager of Wolfson College Oxford, and the entire Ballard family.

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