No-one should have to face axial SpA (AS) alone

Please donate today and help us provide expert advice and support for everyone living with axial SpA (AS) during this challenging time.

For over 40 years, NASS has supported people in the UK who live with axial SpA (AS). During the on-going and ever-changing COVID-19 pandemic, our work is more important than ever.

COVID-19 has disproportionately affected the 1 in 200 adults in the UK living with axial SpA (AS). According to a recent NASS survey, one in four people have had no access to vital NHS services since March, and nearly 50% of people have faced a decline in both physical and mental health since lockdown began.

Thanks to your amazing support earlier this year, we were able to increase our Helpline hours and run innovative online sessions to help people take control of their pain and fatigue and ensure people aren’t alone during these unprecedented times. NASS branches around the country have moved their physiotherapy sessions online, and are staying in contact with local members providing vital support.

But we need to do more and we need your help.

We know that demand for our services will increase as we head further into a second wave of COVID-19. At the same time, we have experienced a significant loss of fundraising income this year and we urgently need your help to power our support services and ensure that everyone living with axial SpA (AS) has somewhere to turn for expert advice and support.

Together we can make sure that no-one has to face axial SpA (AS) alone.

The impact of your donation

£10 can enable our Helpline team to respond to a call or email and provide guidance and advice to anyone affected by axial SpA (AS).
£25 could help provide a pack of NASS guidebooks for a local axial SpA clinic.
£50 could help our team provide 1:1 welfare and benefits support for someone living with axial SpA (AS).
£100 could help by contributing towards the cost of one of our weekly My AS My Life sessions to help people living with axial SpA (AS) manage their symptoms between hospital appointments.
£250 could help us run an online session to help up to 20 people learn how to better manage difficult issues like pain, fatigue and sleep.

Online support from my local NASS branch has been an absolute lifeline during lockdown!

Becky, 29 years old, Nottingham

“My name is Becky, and I am 29 years old. I have both axial SpA (AS) diagnosis and hypermobility spectrum disorder. These are contradictory conditions as hypermobility causes dislocation and hyper flexibility. AS does the opposite, causing stiffness and lack of movement – this has caused a lot of pain my whole life.

“I was diagnosed with AS two years ago and was prescribed hydrotherapy from my local hospital, which was a great help. At the time, I was feeling really low, as I didn’t know anyone my age with an AS diagnosis, which was really isolating. I met a physio who knew about NASS and they suggested I tried the NASS Derby Branch hydrotherapy group.

“Through this NASS group, I have met some fantastic friends of all ages who are going through similar experiences to me. One of the things we talk about least is AS. We talk about our life, our families, our daily experiences, maybe a new treatment we tried will be brought up, but overall we talk about anything and everything! The best thing is that there is a mutual understanding, everyone there knows without saying how AS might affect our lives , and we are there for each other through it all.

When COVID-19 first hit, the branch was very quick to organise virtual support so that we could still feel connected. I know it will be a long time before we are all back together again, and this virtual support through Zoom stretch sessions and our Whatsapp group has been an absolute lifeline!”