#I'MNOTDRUNK: AN INTERVIEW WITH ASHLEY CLARKE

What this episode covers

Intro into Ashley Clarke's Blog: https://kyraashley.wordpress.com/ They say there’s a reason for everything. So there must be a reason my life is affected by Huntington’s Disease. And that is the reason for this blog. My name is Ashley. And I have a story to tell… At 15 years old, I found out that my father had Huntington’s Disease. It was very hard to come to terms with, and at that point, my father and I weren’t exactly on great terms, due to what the condition was doing to his mind. My brother and I are my father's sole carers, and we do everything for him, with help from social workers and care assistants, not to mention friends and family. Huntington’s was difficult to come to terms with, but eventually, and many years later, I have made peace with this affliction. The problems I face now are what will happen in the later stages when Dad can no longer stay at home. Huntington’s is something you can learn to live with as a carer. I know I am at risk, as my brother also is. And I have gotten used to caring for Daddy and recognising his needs. Something I will never get used to is the staring, the gossiping, and people being downright ignorant towards my father. Huntington’s is a silent disease, one that is not always apparent to Jane and John Doe who pass us by on the street. It is one of many diseases that are perhaps not always immediately apparent. The #ImNotDrunk campaign, and the purpose of this blog, is to educate society on such illnesses and to try to stamp out judgements and uneducated opinions.

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