Barnsley mum raises over £6,000 as she champions Sleep Team at charity

JAYNE Collins, from Barnsley, has been fundraising for The Children’s Hospital Charity since her daughter was diagnosed with narcolepsy at the age of five years old.  

Narcolepsy is a rare condition that causes sleep attacks, fatigue, sleep paralysis, and muscle weakness amongst other symptoms.

Now 18 years old, Mille Saul has been treated by the Sleep Team at Sheffield Children’s for most of her life. 

Jayne, a fitness instructor, is committed to raising vital funds to improve care for those that visit Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, having used the services throughout her children’s lives. 

Hosting Zoom workouts throughout the pandemic to now completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, Jayne hopes to raise awareness of the long-term brain condition and raise vital funds for Sheffield Children’s.

From supporting events for children with different conditions to helping make the environment bespoke to their needs, The Children’s Hospital Charity helps go above and beyond the NHS provision for Sheffield Children’s.

The devoted mother took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge with a team of 12, completing the 24-mile feat in just 10 hours. 

Jayne said:

“I fundraise because I could never repay for what they’ve done for us. The Narcolepsy team at Sheffield Children’s has changed our lives for the better.

“Members of the public that donate to the Charity really do make an impact on lives like ours, with our Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge really bringing together a team to support an amazing cause.

“We have a community of families through Sheffield Children’s that have the same understanding and support for one another. Our Sleep Team community is an incredible support system for both me and Millie as we don’t feel alone in struggling with this debilitating condition.

“Doing a challenge like the Yorkshire Three Peaks was the perfect way for me and my team to push ourselves, and I’m incredibly proud of everyone for keeping spirits high as we climbed each peak. We were all so tired by the end, but everyone was back in the gym by the next week!”

Millie will soon be moving on from Sheffield Children’s as she transitions to adult healthcare services as well as adapting to university life, where she will adjust her routine to suit her condition. But the fundraising won’t stop there for Jayne – she hopes to take on more challenges to support Sheffield Children’s in the future.

Millie has adapted her life around her rare condition, experiencing symptoms like fatigue and the inability to regulate sleep. Millie said:

“Living with narcolepsy is all I’ve ever known, but that doesn’t make each day easier, and I have to adapt to a world that isn’t always accessible for me.

“I’m determined to have as normal life as possible, and I couldn’t have done this without the support I’ve received from the Sleep Team or the charity.”

To take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge and help people like Millie, please visit: https://events.tchc.org.uk/event/yorkshire-three-peaks-2023.