The ataxias are a set of rare, life limiting, progressivly destructive conditions that affect around 10,000 adults and 500 children in the UK. At present treatments exist for few of the ataxias, leaving over 10,500 people in the UK to face the prospect of progressively losing the ability to walk and co-ordinate their movements, and potentially losing their speech, sight and hearing. As the ataxias are so rare, it often takes years to get a diagnosis, and don't get specialist support.

We urgently needs funds to increase our Research Programme to bring forward the day when treatments and cures will be available. We want to improve diagnosis and care by increasing patient access to our specialist NHS Ataxia clinics by establishing the first Paediatric Ataxia Centre in the UK for children.