Friends of PANS PANDAS UK
Meet Oliver
We are the only UK charity working to raise awareness of PANS and PANDAS.
Can you help us to support more families like Oliver’s?
At nine years old, Oliver was on top of the world. He was adventurous, creative and outgoing, always entertaining his friends and family. Then, after a simple ear infection, Oliver’s life changed unimaginably. He quickly became terrified of everything and everyone. He wouldn’t eat or drink, he was scared to sleep and became a risk to himself.
Oliver was initially diagnosed with an autistic breakdown, but he didn’t respond to treatment and his quality of life deteriorated further. Fortunately, Oliver’s family discovered PANS PANDAS UK and read about the conditions, recognising his symptoms. They fought for further tests and, after almost two years, Oliver was diagnosed and started treatment. Several years later, Oliver’s anxiety levels have begun to reduce, but there remains a long road ahead.
In most cases, PANS and PANDAS both respond well to early treatment. However, like Oliver, many children in the UK are currently experiencing prolonged, devastating symptoms affecting every aspect of their lives, due to a lack of awareness among medical professionals.
With your help, we will continue to drive forward understanding and change. We need you on this journey towards more equitable recognition, treatment and support.
Join our Friendship
We introduced FRIENDS OF PANS PANDAS because we know that regular monthly donations will give us a secure and certain future, meaning we are able to look ahead to a time when PANS and PANDAS is fully recognised and supported.
Your monthly donation will mean families, and children like Oliver, can experience earlier and more appropriate interventions. Life may still be a challenge, but they will have more support from the outset. Most significantly, they will have hope for the future.
All our Friends will receive:
- A personal welcome letter
- A Friends of PANS PANDAS UK pin badge
- Early bird notifications of events and activities
- Exclusive Friends newsletter delivered to your door
- News and updates on our exclusive WhatsApp Announcements Group
- A plaque on our Friends virtual wall
(coming soon!)
Pay it forward
Our community is full of very committed supporters who deserve to be a Friend, but might be unable to help us financially at the moment.
An additional donation means we can gift a Friendship to a deserving member of our community.
To donate a Friendship, simply fill in the ‘Pay it forward’ section of the registration form.
If you are an existing Friend of PANS PANDAS UK, and you would like to donate a Friendship, please email Friends@panspandasuk.org
“We have drawn tremendous support from engaging with the PANS PANDAS UK community during Oliver’s recovery.
Speaking to other families, talking to the team and learning more about the conditions has been a huge source of hope, education and inspiration.”
– Oliver’s Dad, Ben.
