STACEY JUDD: ACTION UPDATE

I haven’t written a blog for a while and thought I best update everyone.

So in little over two months I have taken on a second full time job....fundraising and raising awareness for Tourettes. When I look back it is quite amazing how quickly everything has gathered pace and I am enjoying the challenge.

When I begun this journey it was going to be a fundraising challenge, but the size of this dawned on me. Who would think Tough Mudder as just a fundraising challenge; it is a terrifying prospect these days. I have begun training and although it isn’t very intense I have been upping my cardio. A fellow Liverpool supporter asked how my training was going today and when I told him he said ‘you really need to be upping your training or you’re going to be in trouble’. I thought I was doing well, hmmmmm, thanks!!!

I have enrolled in the Liverpool Tunnel 10k in June, so this will make me focus on something nearer in time. I will start my 10k running in two weeks, this week I will stick to the 5k. I am also going to doing Hell Runner in Delamere Forest in Novemeber, it is also 12 miles like Tough Mudder, but with a lot less obstacle as a little prep for the ‘big one’ two weeks later.

In between the training I have met with my MP and told him that local NHS support for people who are diagnosed with this condition is shocking. Suzanne, the Chief Executive pointed out that in general there is a shortage of Neurologists and even fewer with a real interest in Tourettes Syndrome. So it looks as though unless you are lucky enough to live within a County that has a Specialist, suffers will have to continue to travel for expert advice.

I also noted from all the information I have been sent over the last couple of months that children are being diagnosed late for one reason or another. They are going into secondary school and being labelled as problematic, when in reality they have not been diagnosed and no one is aware of their needs. One dad wrote into a Newspaper recently and said that his son had been excluded for shouting out obscenities in class. If they aren’t diagnosed, aren’t being recognised as needing extra help then they are in reality not making the most of their education at no fault of their own. Could schools be educated as to what to look out for and refer them to the school doctor? They do this for ADHD.

On a less political note, although for Merseyside maybe not the case I have managed to acquire a signed Everton Football. Tim Howard kindly sent this to me, and as some of you know he is also a Tourettes suffer. I am hoping to auction this off later this year. Maybe you could put in an offer for your poor relative that chose the wrong colour shirt! Tim also signed a picture to Charlie with ‘Dream Big’ on it. She loves it! My dad is also very happy (and smug) as we have to ‘put up’ with the signed Everton picture in a Liverpool house. I think he thinks it is a get back at me for going against him as a child and supporting the ‘better club’. Saturday’s match may decide the better team, I will not be watching as I feel I already know the outcome and don’t want to have to witness it.

This week will also see an article come out in the Sunday Post in Glasgow; it is very strange seeing me and Charlie on the front cover of a magazine. But it is about raising awareness and hopefully funds. Talking of funds I have currently raised £400, which I am very proud of.

Stacey with Lily (left) and Charlie

I am also going to be on Radio City as I am sure you will all have heard of, is Liverpool’s local radio. Suzanne who is Chief Executive has already been on the radio and they really wanted to continue to help, so offered me a chance to tell our story. I thing Tim Howard will also do a part later on in the year. They will also feature it again on the run up to Tough Mudder to help with raising funds. So hopefully it will only be a good thing and people will offer support and sponsorship.

My dad is a pigeon racer which is Liverpool’s second most popular sport (apparently). He is hoping to have an auction this year to help me raise funds, so that is exciting as do you know how much a pigeon cost?

Also my Aunty Val who has an organisation called ‘Pride in Liverpool’ is helping me think of local businesses we can approach to gain some sort of corporate sponsorship. It is a long shot but I1 did not think that Tim Howard would come onboard and help, so maybe not so unachievable.

On a more poignant note, Charlie has found it a bit difficult over the last week. Although her vocal tic are minimal at the moment, she has begun face distortions and she hates them, to be honest I am not a fan but they are sent to test us. She got really upset yesterday and asked ‘why do I have to have Tourettes?’ The only way I can get her out of this mood is by putting a humorous twist on it. I told her it could be worse, she could be green and have funny ears like Shrek. Or three legs and how hard would it be to walk on three legs? She laughed and we had a cuddle, but to be honest sometimes I ask the same.