Son skateboarding from Leeds to Barry for mum's treatment

Joanne Katchi, 50, who lives in Barry, woke up one morning in October last year with pins and needles in her leg. Then her speech started becoming slow. When Ms Katchi was taken to the GP they thought she was having an allergic reaction to menopausal treatment.

Ms Katchi was sent home and the symptoms got worse. Her husband Michael, a local gas engineer, demanded his wife see a neurologist, however the family were given the devastating news there was an 18-month waiting list to see a specialist.

Left helpless, one lucky day at The Heath in Cardiff, Ms Katchi and family happened to bump into a neurologist going off shift who took a look at her and said she needed to be admitted to hospital immediately.

Ms Katchi was in hospital three weeks and has been at home the last six weeks, with no official diagnosis yet - it’s believed it could be Motor Neurones Disease, but there's a chance it could be rare neurological disorder Spasticity - usually caused by damage to nerve pathways within the brain or spinal cord that control muscle movement.

Joanna Katchi started with pins and needles in her legs, now she might have a life-changing neurological disorder

In a desperate attempt to get Ms Katchi the help she needs, husband Michael was looking at re-mortgaging the house. Now son Dan Katchi, 32, who lives near Leeds, is skateboarding from the city to Barry Island in an effort to raise money for his mother’s treatment.

Dan said, despite the potentially life-altering diagnosis, his mother is getting on with it.

“Mum’s still fighting for her independence even today,” said Dan.

Joanna, from Barry, used to care for kids

Dan described what it was like for the family to receive such shocking news, saying he’s passed the tears stage and now they want to fight to give their mum the best quality of life she can get.

“It has been a shock,” said Dan. “We were hoping it was something temporary, but the one thing I have taken from mum is the ‘it is what it is attitude’ and take the positives and that is what she is doing now. I have been through the tears and the ‘she does not deserve this’ type thing – now we have to deal with it.”

Son Dan, is skateboarding from Leeds to Barry to raise money for his mum's treatment

Dan skateboarded for Wales in competition

Dan’s going to skateboard from Leeds to Barry having represented Wales in competitions around the world. He says it’s the way he knows he can help his mum.

“I have skateboarded my whole life,” said Dan. “I represented the UK in competitions around the world. It’s what I know to do. I am doing t because no matter what my mum will never want for anything.”

Dan will be skateboarding from Leeds to Barry between May 4 and 7. Go to www.gofundme.com/f/helping-mum-at-home if you wish to donate.