Hi I'm Nathalie Taylor. I'm writing this story on behalf of my brother Alan who in is late thirties was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis Arthritis. This type of arthritis affects the spine which includes pain and stiffness fro the neck down to the lower back. The spine's bones fuse together resulting in a rigid spine. It took some time for my brother to be diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis. The disease appeared in its full angry rage of pain after a winter viral infection which just seemed to never fully go away. He suffered terribly during this time and still does during flare ups; with body pain, neck pain, stiffness and severely swollen hands. Getting out of bed or getting dressed was and is at times very much a struggle. Eventually, once the diagnosis came this gave some relief in terms of pain management but also sadness to know that he would have to live with this ailment for the rest of his life with no cure at present. Some days the darkness of what this disease can overtake all of our emotions but staying positive and pushing through it together is the way forward. So in order to push through it together we have planned to walk, on the 7th of July, 36km from Dromahair, Co Leitrim to Coolaney, Co Sligo on the Sligo Camino.  This walk is going to be very challenging as there is a mixture of tracks, trails and forest path through flat lands and hills to overcome until we reach the finishing line. Why are we doing this?? Well, although this will be very tough on my brother (and for me I will be counting the blisters!)...we still want to raise awareness for this type fo arthritis and also to help Arthritis Ireland raise funds so they can continue to help individuals with arthritis. We also want to demonstrate to people with this type of Arthritis that anything is possible and not to get down by your diagnosis. Keep getting up, keep trying and stay positive! We would really appreciate any amount of donations that you wish to give to Arthritis Ireland.ThanksNathalie & Alan.

Building a better world for people living with arthritis today, and a world without arthritis tomorrow.

• €25

• €40
  Claire Singleton

  go go go

• €10
  [email protected]

  Hope you enjoy the walk

• 

• €20
  Mairead Lynam

  Well Done Nat Taylor.

• €100
  Sarah Kearns

• €100
  Melanie Taylor-Shipley

  Fantastic

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  Chris Maher

• €30
  Marian Kiernan

  Best of luck Nathalie to you & Alan, hope it goes smoothly for ye ?