Welcome to Ataxia UK

We are the UK’s leading charity for people with ataxia, their families and carers.

We support people affected by ataxia and fund research into causes and potential treatments.

To join us and become a Friend of Ataxia UK, please contact us now for an application form.

What's new

What do you think? We want to know - survey closing 31 July.: Ataxia UK has launched its 2009 Friends Survey with the new edition of the Ataxian magazine. Fill in your hard copy or click here to take the survey online. Anyone who takes part (and gives us their contact details) will be entered into a prize draw to win £50. If you prefer not to, you can remain anonymous. Please fill it in to help us make our services better for you.
More free equipment: Two 4-wheeled Sovereign shopriders complete with batteries and fully overhauled are offered free to a good home, with delivery to be arranged. Contact the office for more information.
Hoist offered free (postage only to be paid): A Milford Person Hoist is offered free of charge, with just £60 postage to be paid. The hoist originally cost £1500 and has been used less than 20 times. For more information please contact the office,
and please click here to see an image of the hoist.
Free equipment: A Quickie Titanium wheelchair has been kindly offered to a good home, for collection from the Leeds area. Please contact the office to find out more.
Ataxia UK regional conference - this weekend!: Ataxia UK's Exeter regional conference will take place this weekend, 13 June 2009, with presentations, doctors' Q & A, entertainment, and more. The Rougemont Hotel (by Thistle) is directly opposite Exeter Central station - click here for a map.
New Ataxian out now: Ataxian 166 is on its way now to Friends and is also available to download from this site here. Download inserts and directions for the 2009 Annual Conference and the Trustee Elections.
Win a Brand New Fiat 500: This year Ataxia UK is part of Everyclick's charity raffle. As of today you can enter into the national draw to win a brand new Fiat 500! Tickets cost £2 and 95% of all the proceeds go to Ataxia UK! If you fancy your chances, get in touch with us on fundraising@ataxia.org.uk. Tickets are available until 21st August 2009.
Got a medical question?: At the Exeter regional conference on 13 June 2009, we will have our traditional Doctors' Q & A session. If you have a medical question you'd like to ask, please email research@ataxia.org.uk or call the Research team at the office on 020 7582 1444.
TV opportunity: A BBC radio station is looking for young disabled people to take part in a programme about relationships. If you're interested contact vivienne.perry@unique.com or get in touch with Claire at the office on cmcgowan@ataxia.org.uk.
Case studies are still needed and there's been quite a lot of interest from the press, so please keep getting in touch, and thank you to those who have already done so.
GIG survey still open: GIG (the Genetic Interest Group) have put together a short survey for Ataxia UK Friends on the care that they receive.
Disability equipment free to good home-UPDATE: A stairlife, support chair, and indoor wheelchair are being offered free of charge, for collection from the West Sussex area. For more information contact the helpline on 0845 644 0606.
Disabled adult with social worker wanted: The Open University are seeking a disabled adult to take part in filming learning materials for one of their courses, along with their social worker. If interested please contact Lucy at Evans Woolfe Media on 020 8744 1012
BBC Panorama on stem cells: Panorama on 18 May looked at the phenomenon of overseas stem cells treatments. To view the programme on BBC iplayer, follow this link
New Incredible Website launched: Friend of Ataxia UK Damian Cardozo has launched a new website to showcase incredible feats as well as raising money for Ataxia UK and awareness of ataxia. Have a look at www.theincrediblewebsite.org
Carers Week vouchers and booklet available: To mark Carers' Week, 8 to 14 June 2009, Ataxia UK has copies of the booklet 'You Matter Too' plus discount vouchers for Superdrug, free to carers. Get in touch today if you would like to receive your free voucher and a booklet on caring. While stocks last!
Contact cmcgowan@ataxia.org.uk or call 020 7587 3925
Would you like to tell your story in the media?: Ataxia awareness day is coming again in September, and we are already gathering case studies of people affected by ataxia who would be willing to be media volunteers and tell their story. At the moment we especially need some case studies of children and young people, so if you are a parent of a child with ataxia we would love to hear from you today.
Ataxia UK National Raffle - The Winners: On Monday 11th May the winning tickets for the Ataxia UK National Raffle were drawn. The top prize was £250. A digital camera and a day's paintbailling for eight people were also up for grabs. Ticket sales have made £2,700 for Ataxia UK. We want to say a big thank you to everyone who supported the raffle, both buying and selling tickets. To see a full list of winners click on the title above.
Wheelchair dancers wanted: Fancy learning the rapidly-growing sport of wheelchair dancing? BBC 3 are seeking wheelchair users to take part in a new dance programme.
Awards open for nominations: We recently heard about two awards which might be of interest to Friends. Winning an award is a great way to raise awareness of ataxia, and of course you'll get a great prize and a night out at an awards ceremony. Why not nominate yourself or someone you know?
Major new film launched featured Friedreich's ataxia: The Cake Eaters is a major new film coming from the USA, starring Kristen Stewart (who recently featured in the Twilight film), as a young girl with Friedreich's ataxia. There are no current plans to release the film in the UK but copies are available online.
Travelling Fellowships available: The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust has 100 fellowships available, which allow UK citizens to travel abroad for projects related to their job, hobby, or interest.
Update on 2009 Conference Costs: You spotted it - there was a small mistake in the last Ataxian about costs for the conference this year. To clear things up, we have tried to answer some of your questions. There will also be an update and booking information in the next Ataxian, due in June. We're really sorry for the confusion and please get in touch if there's anything else you want to know.
Update on Mind Clinic: Following recent interest from Friends, we have produced a briefing sheet on alternative therapies offered by the Mind Clinic.
Ataxia UK Trustees attend star-studded premiere: This week three of Ataxia UK's trustees attended the star-studded launch of the new Richard Curtis film, The Boat that Rocked. Part of the proceeds from the event have been kindly donated to Ataxia UK.
Intrepid Ataxia UK rowers take on Atlantic: Brave rowers Rich and Tom are preparing to row the Atlantic in December 2009, to help raise money for Ataxia UK.
Results of Vitamin E and Coenzyme Q10 randomised controlled trial in Friedreich’s ataxia: Results of an Ataxia UK-funded research project are now available.
New Ataxia UK Facebook launched: Do you use Facebook? Why not join us online?
Do you know someone special who could win an award?: The WellChild awards are now open for nomination for 2009. Awards are made to children and young people who have shown special bravery coping with a medical condition, and also to siblings or friends who help them. The awards are open to special healthcare professionals, too.
Bloggers Wanted: NHS Direct is seeking carers to write blogs for their Carers Direct website section.
Living Statues wanted: Artist Anthony Gormley is seeking 2,400 people to stand on Leicester Square's Fourth Plinth. If you are interested it would be a great chance to raise awareness of ataxia.
New Ataxian goes out with Trustee Nominations: The new edition of the Ataxian is on its way out to Friends this week. Enclosed with the magazine is an early call to trustee nominations for 2009-10. Although we have just had a trustee election, we are moving the process earlier for next year in order to hold the AGM in October 2009.
New overseas scholarship opportunity: LEAD has announced a new chance for a disabled person to study abroad.
Carers Week National Survey: Carers are invited to take part in the 2009 Carers Week survey, which can be completed at www.carersweeksurvey.org.uk
Katie steps down as webmaster: Ataxia UK's webmaster Katie Henderson will be moving on from the role to pursue her studies in counselling.
Happy New Year - Half Price Calendars: Happy New Year to everyone from the Ataxia UK office. Now 2009 has begun the beautiful Ataxia UK calendars are now half price! They have 12 gorgeous black and white photographs by Madeleine Cardozo and are now only £3 each (or 4 for £10). All money goes straight to Ataxia UK. To order one now call the office on 0207 582 1444.
Watch Darran bench press 10 tonnes in 10 hours: Paralympian hopeful Darran shifted 10 tonnes for Ataxia UK on Awareness Day 07. He later won the 100kg body weight class at the UK Open Bench Press Competition.

See a short video explaining how ataxia can affect people.

Helpline: 0845 644 0606

Welcome to Ataxia UK

What's new