Receiving a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) or CIDP can be a terrifying and isolating experience, bringing with it many questions and an uncertain future. GAIN is the only organisation dedicated to helping people affected by GBS, CIDP and the associated inflammatory neuropathies throughout the UK and Ireland.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare, autoimmune disorder which causes tingling, weakness, and an ascending paralysis, starting in the feet and hands and spreading upwards and inwards over the course of a few days or weeks. Around 25% of people are so severely affected that they need to be ventilated to allow them to keep breathing. Across the UK and Ireland, around 1,300 people will develop an acute form of GBS each year, with another 650 people being diagnosed with a chronic variant such as CIDP. Most people have never heard of these conditions before they or a loved one are personally affected, and many don’t know where to turn for help.

That’s where we come in.

GAIN operates throughout the UK and Ireland and has three objectives:

• Offering support and information to patients and their families
• Advancing awareness amongst healthcare professionals and the public
• Facilitating research into the causes, treatment and prevention of the conditions

This is an expensive undertaking, and to fulfil our objectives costs many tens of thousands of pounds each year. Our aim is for everyone to get a timely and accurate diagnosis and the appropriate treatment, receive information and support to help them understand and manage their condition, and ultimately, to find a prevention and cure for these devastating autoimmune disorders. But we can’t do it alone.

And that’s where you come in.

GAIN receives no government funding, relying instead on donors and fundraisers, gifts in wills, and funding from grant-makers, and we are very proud to report that for every precious £1 raised and donated by our supporters, over 91p goes directly towards fulfilling our charitable objectives.

Thank you for helping us improve the lives of people affected by these rare and little-known conditions.