Support my trip to volunteer with UsherKids Australia!

This summer, I have the opportunity to travel to Australia and volunteer as a mentor at the inaugural Australian USHthis Youth Usher syndrome camp - I'm fundraising to help towards travel and accommodation costs to make this incredible volunteering opportunity a reality.

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In February 2018, I was diagnosed with a rare condition called Usher syndrome, the leading genetic cause of deafblindness. For the next five years, my family and I muddled through my new world post-diagnosis, without knowing where to turn for help until one day, completely by chance, I found myself in touch with the amazing Chloe Joyner at Usher Kids UK.

One thing led to another and I was invited to the Usher Kids UK USHthis Summer camp in August 2024. These summer camps create the opportunity for children and young adults with Usher syndrome to forge connections with one another in a traditional 'American-style' summer camp experience, tailored to their needs. That week-long summer camp was one of the most emotional, exhausting, incredible, and empowering weeks of my life and I can't wait to do it all over again this year. However, this year is also Australia's turn - UsherKids Australia are hosting their first ever USHthis camp and have invited me to take my first-hand experience of both the summer camp and life with this diagnosis, and mentor at their camp.

This opportunity is incredibly important to me - it allows me to be a part of supporting children, young adults, and families affected by Usher syndrome. I hope that by sharing my experiences and knowledge, I can help them navigate some of the challenges associated with deafblindness and be a part of growing some of those ever-important connections, and to also learn and grow myself!

Your contributions will not only help to cover travel expenses, but will go also a long way towards making a difference to the next generation of the Usher syndrome community across the globe, and every penny is appreciated and gratefully received.