{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Chris McGuire","standfirst":"","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ENicole, from County Antrim, has a condition called Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). Despite facing bullying and the difficulties of her condition, this 17-year-old Explorer Scout inspires her community by volunteering and helping to run a support group for others with FND. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EWe were keen to find out more. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EHow long have you been a Scout?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EI joined my local Scout group when I was 12 years old. I really wanted to join something where I could learn new skills and help the local community. I was interested in the idea of going on hikes and camping, so Scouts was for me. When I turn 18, and it\u2019s time to leave Explorer Scouts, I hope to become a Young Leader, part of Scout Network, and encourage more girls to join my local group.\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EHow does FND affect your life?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe biggest obstacles I\u2019ve had to overcome are my health condition and the stigma that sometimes comes with it. I\u2019ve also experienced episodes of bullying both in person and online which I have found really hurtful.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EFND causes me to have functional seizures, drop attacks,\u00A0temporary paralysis and tremors amongst other things. The\u00A0condition also means that after any of these episodes I become quite tired and fatigued. This means that I miss a lot of school and some of the hikes and camping expeditions, which really upsets me.\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/19589/nicole-hiking-outdoors.jpg","width":1536,"height":2048,"altText":"Nicole has a backpack on her back and she\u0027s standing in a field with grassy hills behind her.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EThat sounds hard, do you get much support?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EMy family, of course, are very supportive. So are all the volunteers at my local parkrun, where I volunteer every Saturday morning. I get support from the charity FND Matters NI and everyone at Scouts.\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EI\u2019ve had lots of seizures at Scouts. Every time I\u2019ve had one\u00A0and I need to be picked up, the leaders are always straight on the\u00A0phone with my family and reassuring me that having\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Ethe episode did not spoil anyone else\u2019s experience, which\u00A0gives me the encouragement to keep coming back and we just\u00A0carry on as if nothing had happened.\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003ETell us about the group you helped to set up.\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe founder of FND Matters NI, heard me talking about my condition and how it affected my physical and mental health. She asked me to help set up a youth support group. Our group encourages lots of teenagers/young adults with the same condition as me to come out and talk openly about FND and how it affects them. We meet every 2 weeks online to support each other. We can also message each other if we need someone to talk to.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EHow was it to be one of Bear Grylls Unsung Heroes?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt was encouraging to be nominated for this year\u2019s award, which I wasn\u2019t expecting. To meet Bear in person was a great experience. He had words of encouragement for all of the winners, which meant a lot.\u00A0I was recently presented with another Scouting award, The Commissioner\u2019s Commendation Award Badge, in recognition of my achievement as one of the Chief Scout\u2019s Unsung Heroes.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/19590/nicole-with-chief-scout-bear-grylls.jpg","width":4512,"height":6760,"altText":"Nicole is holding her Unsung Heroes certificate standing next to Chief Scout Bear Grylls. They\u0027re both wearing neckers and smiling at the camera.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EWhat would you like to tell people about life and FND?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EI think the most important lesson I\u2019ve learned is to never take anything for granted. I was perfectly healthy until I was 14 years old and then my life changed completely when I received my FND diagnosis. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ELots of people who get diagnosed with FND lock themselves away because they become embarrassed by the seizures and tremors. Because I have so much support from everyone around me, it gives me the confidence and courage to go after all of my dreams. I try to take control of my condition and not let it control me.\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003ETell us about one of your dreams\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EMy dream adventure would have been to go to an International Scout Jamboree and get the opportunity to meet people from all round the world. I love to meet people from other countries and find out about their culture.\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Plain","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EWe think you\u2019re a total inspiration Nicole! \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EKeep following your dreams and helping others with FND. We\u2019re sure you\u2019ll make a great Scout leader one day.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#002f6c","title":"","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"18 January 2023","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Find out about FND","url":"https://www.fndaction.org.uk/what-is-functional-neurological-disorder/","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"FND Matters NI","url":"https://fndmattersni.org.uk/","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"Inclusion and Diversity in Scouts","url":"/volunteers/equity-diversity-and-inclusion/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[],"id":39502,"nodeName":"Meet Nicole, the FND inspirer","title":"Meet Nicole, the FND inspirer","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/19590/nicole-with-chief-scout-bear-grylls.jpg?cc=0,0.12310848126232742,0,0.501447731755424\u0026width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd25f11530","caption":"Nicole With Chief Scout Bear Grylls","type":"jpg","size":7342146,"width":4512,"height":6760,"altText":"Nicole is standing next to Bear Grylls holding her Unsung Heroes certificate. 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