Tyler Childer's Tourette YA fund

My name is Tyler Childers. I am 13 years old and in the 8th grade.  When I was 6 years old  I started making  a lot of weird faces.  It started with blinking so my parents took me to the eye doctor.  I did need glasses, but that didn't stop the blinking.   As a matter of fact my strange movements and strange noises became more and more and by the time I was 8, I was diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome.  At first I was pretty sure it meant I was going to die!!  But after some research and contacting the National Tourette's Association for information and support I realized it wasn't quite that bad!   Over the last 5 years my parents and I have struggled to find doctors in Montana that are even willing to try to manage my medications and symptoms. All of the doctors we have seen in Montana either openly admit they have no expereince treating Tourette Syndrome, or simply say they will "try".  It has been very fustrating.  There is also no support group in Montana for kids and families with Tourette's.  So we have been all alone  to navigate my syndrome.  
Tourette's is a neurological disorder that effects the movement part of your brain.  Because it is neurological it can also effect mood, focus,  and even coordination.  I struggle with debilitating anxiety, depression, and OCD along with the over 2 dozen tics I cycle through each year.  
 Up until this year, my symptoms were so bad I had to be homeschooled.  But now I am in public school for the first time ever. I have always enjoyed educating people on my condition and now that my anxiety is under control I am exctied to begin a new role as a Youth Ambassador for Tourette's Awareness.   I applied for and was chosen as a funded Ambassador for the Northwest region, however most of my engagements will be here in Montana.  As an ambassador I will share my story and educate people about Tourette's, from schools, to humanitarian organizations to business's and even in clinical settings. 
However first I must attended an ambassador training and the National Conference on Tourette's this March 8-13 2016 in Arlington, Virginia. In addition to training I will participate in the national day of advocacy and participate in meetings to bring Tourette's awareness to capital hill.
As a funded Ambassador, the National Tourettes Association will pay for my flight and hotel for the first 2 nights of the conference, however I must raise the money first as they will only reimburse.  I must also take an adult with me who will also attend training and will become my coordinator for scheduling speaking enagements,  those expense are not covered. 
The following is a breakdown of our anticipated costs.

$600/ person flight
$425/person for conference fees
$60 for annual dues
$75 for a group tour of DC
$295/ night @3 nights hotel
$109/night @2 nights hotel
$100 clothing allowance ( Suit and tie are required for Capital Hill meetings)
$400 food and misc allowance
Total is $3788
 
I must have  $985 by Jan 30 2016
$1200 by Feb 10 2016
And the remainder by March 1 2016

Any money raised beyond my goal as well as the money reimbursed by the Association will go straight into my travel account to assist with the cost of traveling to speaking engagements over the next year.
  I am so pleased to have been chosen as an ambassador for my condition.  I can hardly wait to get into the community and start raising awarenss for Tourette's, which effects roughly 25% of kids under the age of 18!  It is seriously underdiagnosed and misunderstood.  I hope that while raising awareness I can help to cultivate a support community in Montana for those struggling with Tourette's.
     I will be eternally grateful for any and all help I recieve.  My parents have no way of coming up with an extra $4000 for this trip and without fundraising I will not be able to go.  I will be posting other events to raise funds as I can arrange them.

Thanks so much for reading my story, whether you choose to give or not.
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