Helen Simpson’s Post

Hi All, 💥 I am happy to share that we have already raised 67% of our Team target of £1,000.00 on our fundraiser for MS Society!! 💥 In a couple of weeks me and my colleagues from KBS Maritime will be hiking 25km across Exmoor in aid of MS Society and today I wanted to share about my own journey with Multiple Sclerosis. MS is a complex and often invisible illness, with symptoms that can vary greatly from person to person. Some common symptoms include fatigue, cognitive challenges and muscle weakness. For me, fatigue can be overwhelming at times, making it difficult to focus or find the energy to complete everyday tasks. When tired, I often experience brain fog and find it hard to string a sentence together (although I then tend to blame it on speaking a foreign language 😉 ). The key for me is to keep sort of a weekly schedule to ensure that I do not overdo it all in one day and make sure I have a day off here and there where I have absolutely zero plans, or more accurately when the plan is to just rest😴. How MS Society helps me? They have so many useful resources on their portal and provide access to qualified MS Nurses who have the tips at the ready to guide me when I get overwhelmed and lost with the day to day. 🧡 Your contribution to our fundraiser can make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by this condition. Donate here: https://lnkd.in/eqj5EDwA You can learn more on what is MS and how it can affect different people here: https://lnkd.in/e4gRuMXR #fundraising #mssociety #kbsmaritime #teamchallenge #letsgohiking

Hello LinkedIn Connections, I do not post much on LinkedIn. I am more of a reader than a contributor. So posting is a little out of my comfort zone. It is with a heavy heart that I share the devastating news that my mother has been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, at the young age of 61. ALS is a progressive and fatal neurological disorder that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement such as walking, swallowing and breathing. You might have heard of ALS in light of the 2014 #IceBucketChallenge, which has resulted in several life prolonging medications for ALS patients. Since her diagnosis, she has moved in with me so that I can be her caretaker alongside the professionals. This is a very physically and emotionally demanding role that I am delighted to do - being her caretaker is fulfilling God's work. I truly stand by that. I bring this up because the ALS Association hosts annual walks in different cities around the United States to raise money for ALS research and resources as well as spread awareness of this awful disease. In honor of my mothers everyday battle, I created a team, named Tammy's Tenacity, for the Fort Worth ALS Walk to Defeat ALS event happening on October 19th, 2024. As team captain, it is my role to cultivate a team and fundraise for further ALS research and resources. So, I am taking a leap of faith to ask my connections and/or their organizations to humbly donate to my team, Tammy's Tenacity. Your donation, big or small, greatly improves the life of ALS patients and their caretakers. Let's find a CURE! 🙏 To make a donation to my team, use the link below and search the team name "Tammy's Tenacity". Select a team member (you can select me, Sarah Salas) to make a one-time donation to. Each donation will receive a LinkedIn accreditation post from me, personally. 😊 #ALS #LouGehrigsDisease #AmyotrophicLateralSclerosis #ALSawareness #FindACure #ALScaretaker #Fundraising #Donations https://lnkd.in/g9s49CDc

Your donations ensure that we can continue to host free workshops at schools, workplaces, and organizations across BC that cover facts about epilepsy and seizures, how to recognize different types of seizures, and information on seizure first aid and safety. After completing one of our Epilepsy Workshops, one of our attendees stated that "Information on epilepsy is a major section I need to know in my journey to become an EA and I am so grateful for this information!" Through your donation you are ensuring that people can get much-needed information on epilepsy, seizures, and seizure first aid to help make safer communities for people living with epilepsy. On Giving Tuesday on December 3rd, we hope you will visit https://bit.ly/473Xz5v to make a donation. Thank you for your support! Image Description: This graphic features a purple and white gradient background with black text reading "Providing free seizure first aid workshops across BC ... one donation at time." Underneath the text are two images, both of which feature workshops being put on; the first image features a workshop being put on by a male presenter and the second image features a workshop being put on by a female presenter. Underneath these images is black text that reads "On #GivingTuesday on December 3rd, please donate via visit the link in the caption of this post or in our link in bio. Your donations help us support the epilepsy community in BC. Thank you for your generosity!" The BC Epilepsy Society "Over 60 Years" logo and the Giving Tuesday logo are also featured on this graphic. #givingtuesday #givingtuesdayca #canadahelps #donation #donate #donor #charity #charitable #nonprofit #epilepsy #seizures #seizure #seizuredisorder #epilepsyawareness #epilepsyeducation #epilepsywarrior #epilepsylife #epilepsystrong #epilepsypositivity #epilepsyadvocate #endepilepsy #acceptepilepsy #epilepsycommunity #bcepilepsysociety #iamavoiceforepilepsyawareness #epilepsyvoice #bcepilepsyvoice

#huntingtonsdisease Part 13 As I have said in previous posts, I have been #raisingawareness of #huntingtonsdisease throughout Australia (and some globally) for the past couple of years or so, through talking of my family's experience with Huntington's disease. I have been going alone with this so I could be free to research and work without restrictions from any organisations or persons. I needed to speak for those I have lost to this disease. Raise awareness of this disease for my family. Educate those who knew nothing or little of the disease, and encourage existing families with the disease to not make the same mistakes as previous generations in ignoring it as best they can, seriously consider testing and to think of longer term consequences in any decision. Huntington's disease has no cure. It is genetic, rare, a neurological disease which all children born to a parent/parents who are at risk, tested positive or diagnosed with having inherited the disease, are also at risk, with a 50% chance of inheriting it. That is a very big percentage. In my research, I have learned how families are still struggling with the knowledge and diagnosis of this disease. I have learned of the still intact secrecy within the family unit. In other words, the stigma of yesteryear is still there today, and while some families are making changes in hope it will end in present generation, there are many who continue just hoping that cure will be found soon. What I am now asking for, is help in the way of raising money for further research into Huntington's disease. I am asking #you, if you can possibly consider making a donation towards this cruel disease, it would be very much appreciated. I am supplying a link here, which will take you directly to the website to make donations. You will need to specify you want your money to go to Huntington's disease research, to ensure it goes to that. You will be asked for your name and contact details for taxable purposes. And, If you like, you can make the donation on my behalf. Huntington's Disease Network of Australia (HDNA) have provided me with this link, and I personally, have made a donation to ensure it all goes through as I wanted it to. So, I know it will do for you. I am not in a habit of asking people to make a donation, but this is important to me. As I have said in a previous post, I am not a movie star or a celebrity, so I am unable to reach the people as they can, to gain bigger audiences in hope of big donations, but I hope I can make some kind of impression this way. I have approached government in any way I could. Basically, I have possibly made a nuisance of myself, because my family suffered. I have suffered. And I do not want future generations to suffer as we have, and all other families presently dealing with this disease. With thanks, Kathy Langley https://lnkd.in/gjuRs4NF DONATION LINK

We did the math. And it’s simple. We’d love to just focus on our work within the NIH, Mayo Clinic, hospital systems, Canary Corps, state chapters, support groups and more. But we have to start our end of year fundraising. That can start and end TODAY if everyone on our email list gives $36. That’s it. We would be fully funded for 2025. SERIOUSLY. If we get everyone on our list to give $36, we can just focus on doing the work. We know that everyone will not be able to do that! If you can give more consider that you can give $360 (and support 10 people on our list who can’t donate directly) or give $3,600 (and support 100 people on our list who can’t give directly). Give here or use the QR code in the graphic: https://lnkd.in/gk5ktdMv If you can’t donate, we understand. We REALLY, REALLY do! We at #MEAction know this year has been hard for lots of people. One way you are able to help us, if you are not able to give at this time, is to share this post, create your own post, or start a fundraiser (we see you, birthday fundraisers!!!!). We are incredibly grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you, in advance for being you. For joining our movement to improve ME care, treatment, and fight for a cure. #Nonprofit #pwME #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #MECFS #LongCovid #spoonie #disability ID: Red box with a QR code in the middle. Text above: Scan ME. Text below: Donate to #MEAction.

August 17th is International SLC6A1 Awareness day. A day for sharing knowledge, supporting research and raising funds! This year donations can go even further by sponsoring our Dragon Boat Race. We have a gift match offer that will match the funds raised! Donate or sponsor today, help cure children of this debilitating rare disease https://lnkd.in/eVDSdJ_Z What is #SLC6A1 ? It is a rare developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, or neurodeveloomental disorder. The gene slc6a1 has a mutation causing a loss of function. This means it cannot perform its job which is to code the GAT 1 protein, and transport GABA between neurons. GABA is a very important neurotransmitter, which means it send messages through brain cells. This faulty 'coding' causes a wide range if disabilities including #epilepsy #LearningDisabilities #neurodiversity #speechdelay #movementdisorder #challengingbehaviour #asd #adhd and reduced immunity. Children and adults can be non verbal, tube fed, and require 24 care, or they could be verbal, and able, but with some functional challenges. The spectrum is huge and the future unknown as the faulty gene was only discovered in 2015. Science being funded: Research cells and models available now Natural history study Biorepository Neuronal behaviour Absent seizures and slc6a1 Drug repurposing mRNA precision medicine AAV delivery Zebra fish models Global collaboration We might be rare, but we are MIGHTY, and your funds go a long way to support real work. Work that supports other rare DEEs and NDDs too.

Every day we receive messages of thanks from those we have supported. Those who had nowhere else to turn. Families who were feeling overwhelmed and worried about their child's diagnosis of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). With the information and resources that we provided them with and with 1:1 support from our volunteers and access to a peer-to-peer support network, they were given the information and strength they needed to carry on. Many of our resources are recognised as being world-leading resources being translated and used all around the globe. Our awareness initiatives are leading the way in making a real difference to improving earlier diagnosis and helping those with JIA feel less alone. Our own research has been published in scientific journals, presented at international conferences and we have worked with countless other research teams on collaborative projects. All of this has been achieved by our amazing volunteer team in the 6 years since Juvenile Arthritis Research began. But... Our small team of volunteers are so busy doing all these vital areas of work that despite the difference we are making, finding the funding to do all that we do remains our biggest challenge. We currently have an urgent need for funding for a new resource that will save lives. Doctors, medical professionals, volunteers, parents and patients have given their time to create this essential new resource. We now urgently need the funds to get it printed and distributed to reach where it is most needed to make a difference. If you can help introduce us to any funding opportunities such as corporate sponsors or wish to make a donation specifically to make this resource a reality, please get in touch by emailing [email protected] #JIA #JuvenileArthritis #JuvenileIdiopathicArthritis #JuvenileArthritisResearch #Kipo #Arthritis #ChildhoodArthritis #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #JARProject #JIAWarrior #ArthritisAwareness #charity #CharitableCause #NonProfit #Donate #Support #causes #fundraising #philanthropy #KidsWithArthritis #KidsGetArthritisToo #DontBeAloneWithJIA #InstaCharity #RaiseAwareness #ThinkJIA #AwarenessIsEverything 

Fascinating research! It's incredible to see how interconnected our oral health is with overall well-being, including cognitive health. The potential connection between dental care and dementia is a powerful reminder of how much more we need to learn. Supporting studies like this can bring us closer to breakthroughs that could change so many lives. Every bit of funding counts when it comes to uncovering the root causes of diseases like dementia. Proud to support BRACE and their groundbreaking work! 💡🧠 #DementiaResearch #OralHealth #DonateForACause

We love Myles' Christmas wish saying "I wish juvenile arthritis was extinct." We too wish JIA was extinct and as we work hard towards a cure, we really appreciate everyone who has been supporting us. We've now reached the £1,000 milestone in our Christmas appeal. Thank you to everyone who has donated. Please keep sharing the appeal with friends and relatives who may be considering a charity to support this Christmas. By choosing to support Juvenile Arthritis Research, you are helping families feel less alone, you are providing support to those who most need it, you are enabling earlier diagnosis through better awareness, you are creating a better future for children with arthritis, and you are choosing to move closer to a world where no child suffers from arthritis, or in Myles' words, where juvenile arthritis will be extinct. Thank you! Find out more about our Christmas appeal and share your own Christmas wish with us at https://lnkd.in/eXecCJaM #JIA #JuvenileArthritis #JuvenileIdiopathicArthritis #JuvenileArthritisResearch #Kipo #Arthritis #ChildhoodArthritis #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #JARProject #JIAWarrior #ArthritisAwareness #charity #CharitableCause #NonProfit #Donate #Support #causes #fundraising #philanthropy #KidsWithArthritis #KidsGetArthritisToo #DontBeAloneWithJIA #InstaCharity #RaiseAwareness #ThinkJIA #AwarenessIsEverything #PaediatricRheumatology 

Did you know that individuals from minority communities are significantly less likely to participate in organ and tissue donation compared to the general population? As a result, there is a substantial impact on the availability of life-saving transplants for those in need. It is crucial to increase the number of donors from minority backgrounds to narrow this gap and positively impact the lives of those awaiting transplants. To become an organ donor, sign up through organdonor.gov or visit your local DMV. Your help can save lives. #NationalMinorityDonorAwarenessMonth #OrganDonation #TissueDonation #MinorityHealth #Explore #DonateLife #FYP