Herne Bay schoolgirl raises hundreds of pounds in aid of the British Tinnitus Association
06:00, 28 October 2020
A schoolgirl who suffers from the condition tinnitus is raising money to help tackle the illness.
Ella Parris from Herne Bay set out to walk 50 miles this month to raise awareness of the affliction and donations for the British Tinnitus Association (BTA).
The 16-year-old has lived with the condition, which cause sufferers to hear noises that are not caused by an outside source, for a decade.
She said: "It's gone down my family, my great-grandad had it really bad, and I was diagnosed with it when I was six. I hear buzzing, music or ringing when I'm really stressed or if I am really tired.
"It's something that not many people speak about, which is why I want to raise awareness for it. It's just really irritating, and it can give you headaches, make you feel really dizzy.
"I started with goal of raising £150 and this month I was walking for the British Tinnitus Association, 50 miles. I have currently done 47, and the money has gone up to £510, so it's amazing and I'm so happy."
Ella has created an Instagram page @ella_awarenessjourney to raise awareness of her fundraising efforts and share helpful information and advice about tinnitus and other conditions.
BTA fundraising officer Jess Pollard said: "Experiencing tinnitus at any age can be daunting but the way Ella is dedicating time and energy to raise awareness and manage her tinnitus is inspirational."
To donate to Ella's fundraising total via her JustGiving page, click here
