A Little Helping Hand for Jo

South Downs Way Challenge - 100 miles - Winchester to Eastbourne - 4 days - cycle/walk

With very little training or time for preparation, my sister Emily and I (plus walking support team Gail and Kayley) are aiming to complete this challenge starting on the 9th August to try and help out the incredible Jo Smith.

Two and a half years ago Jo’s daughter Eloise was a healthy, young individual. However, after feeling poorly for an extended period of time she was hospitalised and eventually has been given several different diagnoses.

Eloise, only 22 years old, has got Autonomic Nerve Dysfunction (intestinal failure); this means that her nerves are slowly dying. Her intestines, bowel and bladder no longer work causing her to be in pain and suffer from nausea constantly. As a consequence of this Eloise is unable to take food orally, she is fed via a tube directly into her small intestine. She has also been diagnosed with Postural tachycardia syndrome, PoTs meaning that sitting up and standing up causes her dizziness and often means that she will faint, reducing her ability to get out and about. All of these diagnoses are contained under the umbrella of Eds.

For over two years Eloise has been admitted to and discharged from various hospitals including being seen by specialists at UCL. Jo has been unwavering in her support for Eloise and has been present at her side consistently; often travelling the long distances before and after her residential shifts at work and whilst coping with her own health difficulties caused by MS.

The medication that Eloise is on is not working; she is pain constantly and although the conditions are not life threatening in themselves Eloise’s life has changed enormously; she will never be able to eat a plate of food ever again. She currently sees 7 different consultants; 2 of which Jo is having to fund herself; something she is struggling to continue to do. There is no cure for Eloise but we would like to make a little bit of difference to both Eloise and Jo and raise some money for her to continue her treatment by the incredible consultants that are trying to make her more comfortable.

Jo is one tough cookie and wouldn’t normally ask for help but at £200-300 for each appointment for pain management we would like to try and contribute towards this as best we can; please support Jo and her family by donating what you can to this cause.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this page, your help is much appreciated.