Huntingtons disease is an incurable neurological condition with complex physical and mental symptoms. These include a deterioration in motor function which leads to reduced control over movement and a loss of ability to walk, talk, eat and swallow. The disease also causes mood and personality changes and, in some cases, serious psychiatric illness. As it progresses, people with Huntingtons disease can require 24-hour care, meaning they are no longer able to stay in the family home with loved ones. To compound this devastating toll on families, each child of an HD parent is at 50% risk of inheriting the faulty gene that leads to HD. In Scotland today, there are 1100 people with Huntington's disease and a further 5000 people at risk.

Huntingtons disease has affected my family for as long as we can trace back. In my close family, many members of my Mums side has suffered from this. My Mum also currently has Huntingtons disease. The support that SHA has given us as a family has been nothing short of phenomenal. Most importantly, for me, I would say getting in touch with SHA has enabled me to actually realise I'm not alone and its nothing to be ashamed of. Scottish Huntingtons Association has provided support for my Mum for years, most recently, I have accessed this support myself as I look to start the testing process. I've been in contact with so many different amazing people who know how I feel and  know what the best next step for me is. I was able to be referred to the youth programme to speak with young adults, the same age as me, going through the same as me. At first, I didn't know just how much support SHA could give me and had basically written myself off, which they helped me to realise couldn't be further from the case. This is what makes me so keen to raise funds for this amazing charity, to ensure more people like me can access the appropriate support for them. 

 Myself, my sister Claire and my best friend Danielle are taking part in this challenge in 2021 to walk 2021 km to raise £2021, to ensure that 2 more families can access the support that my family needed, and are so appreciative of.