Vanessa Holmes
Tom and Vanessa's Thames Walk Challenge
Fundraising for Addison's Disease Self-Help Group
Story
At the end of May 2021, we are taking on the mammoth challenge of walking the full length of the River Thames - from the source to the Thames Barrier in just 7 days - spanning 184 miles, averaging a marathon walk per day. Starting in the countryside surroundings of the Cotswold's, passing through the cities of Oxford and Reading before ending up in the heart of London, we'll be walking in support of the Addison's Disease Self-Help Group Charity.
Raising awareness about Addison's Disease is close to our hearts. In July 2014, Vanessa's father Clive suddenly passed away following having an Addisonian Crisis. Without knowing, Clive returned home on Friday evening feeling a little under the weather, nothing more than minor flu symptoms and within 24 hours, he sadly passed away. Following a post mortem, it was found that Clive had undiagnosed Addison's Disease.
Addison's Disease is a rare endocrine condition where the adrenal glands cease to function so that your body is no longer producing enough of the essential hormones which are crucial to keeping it functioning correctly. Addison's Disease is extremely rare, affecting approximately 1 in 10,000 people and making it roughly 300 times rarer than diabetes. Those who have it are at their most vulnerable prior to a formal diagnosis.
Addison's Disease is a rare endocrine condition where the adrenal glands cease to function so that your body is no longer producing enough of the essential hormones which are crucial to keeping it functioning correctly. Addison's Disease is extremely rare, affecting approximately 1 in 10,000 people and making it roughly 300 times rarer than diabetes. Those who have it are at their most vulnerable prior to a formal diagnosis.
Early stage symptoms of Addison's are similar to other more common health conditions, such as depression or flu. In Clive's case, the early flu like symptoms were the precursor to an Adrenal Crisis and without the diagnosis, nobody was aware that this was a medical emergency and an emergency injection of intra-muscular hydrocortisone was needed.
Clive's case is one of extreme circumstance, however most people with Addison's can expect to have a normal life span with the right balance of daily medication. Perhaps the most famous person known to have Addison's Disease is President John F Kennedy!
Addison's Disease Self-Help Group is a registered charity that support people affected by Addison's Disease. They work hard to provide practical support and help in a number of different ways:
- Advice and information for patients and their families
- Emergency medical advice for patients
- Information for healthcare professionals caring for people with Addison's
- Lobbying the MHS, policy-makers and influencers to consider the needs of people with Addison's
- Medical research
More info can be found here: https://www.addisonsdisease.org.uk/
The sudden and unexpected event impacted our family in many more ways than just the loss of Clive. We want to raise as much awareness as possible during our training and during the week of our walk to ensure that many more people know about Addison's. Plus, through our fundraising hopefully help the charity with their amazing work - as they fight towards other's not having to go through a similar experience to ours.
Clive's case is one of extreme circumstance, however most people with Addison's can expect to have a normal life span with the right balance of daily medication. Perhaps the most famous person known to have Addison's Disease is President John F Kennedy!
Addison's Disease Self-Help Group is a registered charity that support people affected by Addison's Disease. They work hard to provide practical support and help in a number of different ways:
- Advice and information for patients and their families
- Emergency medical advice for patients
- Information for healthcare professionals caring for people with Addison's
- Lobbying the MHS, policy-makers and influencers to consider the needs of people with Addison's
- Medical research
More info can be found here: https://www.addisonsdisease.org.uk/
The sudden and unexpected event impacted our family in many more ways than just the loss of Clive. We want to raise as much awareness as possible during our training and during the week of our walk to ensure that many more people know about Addison's. Plus, through our fundraising hopefully help the charity with their amazing work - as they fight towards other's not having to go through a similar experience to ours.
Please give us your support, donations and send positive vibes to our aching feet whilst we complete our challenge too!
Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.
Lots of love, Tom and Vanessa xx
Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.
Lots of love, Tom and Vanessa xx