Help Yasmin Walk Again: FND Treatment & Support Fund

Yasmin has recently been diagnosed with a condition called Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) — a serious, life-altering neurological condition that affects how the brain sends and receives signals throughout the body.

FND is caused by changes in how the brain networks function — not by structural damage. That means although brain scans can appear normal, the physical symptoms are very real and can be extremely disabling.

FND can mimic a wide range of other serious neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s Disease. Individuals may experience symptoms like extreme pain, tremors, limb weakness, non-epileptic seizures, mobility issues, speech difficulties, and chronic fatigue — all without a clear or visible “cause” on standard medical tests.

Despite around 5,000 people in Northern Ireland living with FND, it remains widely unknown — not just among the public, but even among many GPs, hospital staff, and rehabilitation services. Many patients are met with confusion, disbelief, or misdiagnosis.

FND is one of the most misunderstood and under-researched neurological conditions in the UK and Ireland. It receives little to no dedicated funding, and there is currently no established treatment pathway in the NHS. A recent petition has called on the government to train NHS staff properly and create an official care pathway — a crucial step that is still missing.

FND remains one of the most misunderstood and under-supported neurological conditions.

Because of this lack of awareness and support, many people with FND are not being listened to, not being believed, and not receiving the treatment they desperately need. Yasmin is one of them.

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How You Can Help

We’re fundraising to get Yasmin to a specialist FND clinic in the UK where she can finally access the treatment and rehabilitation she urgently needs — treatment that could help her regain mobility and take the first steps towards walking again and begin rebuilding her life.

Your support will also help us provide:

• A wheelchair and other mobility aids

• Adapted furniture and home support adaptions or tools.

• Travel and accommodation for treatment

• Ongoing physiotherapy, psychological care & holistic therapies.

• equipment to improve her quality of life at home and, eventually, outdoors.

These tools and therapies could make all the difference in helping Yasmin reclaim her independence, confidence, and quality of life.

Yasmin has been housebound since November 2024, and these tools will make a huge difference to her daily independence and wellbeing alongside future management.

Every donation, no matter the size, will bring us one step closer to giving Yasmin the care and dignity she deserves.

Thank you so much for reading, sharing, and supporting her journey.

(Should you wish to arrange your own fundraising event, please kindly get in touch beforehand.)