Meet Caris Gibson, a 21-year-old from Oxfordshire caught in a battle against a little-known condition called Fowler’s Syndrome. Initially brushing off her symptoms as a simple UTI, Caris found herself repeatedly rushing to A&E, grappling with intense pain and an inability to urinate. After a long and frustrating journey, she was finally diagnosed in November 2025.
Fowler’s Syndrome, which mostly affects young women, keeps Caris in relentless pain and her bladder constantly under threat. In some cases, this condition can result in the bladder being removed. Caris’ journey on the NHS treatment list is painfully slow, leaving her and her family no choice but to turn to private care, which comes with a hefty price tag. Caris’s mum, Jill, is running 5km every day in 2026 to help fund the necessary treatment and raise awareness for this condition.
Despite trying various forms of catheterisation, Caris continues to suffer from extreme discomfort and frequent infections. Her daily routine now revolves around battling these symptoms, constantly haunted by the feeling she needs the loo even when she doesn’t.
To help alleviate her troubles, a private consultation suggested trying a sacral nerve stimulator, a device that might improve bladder control. But it’s not a guaranteed fix. The spectre of her bladder being irretrievably lost to surgery looms large if it fails.
The family has set up a GoFundMe with a £7,000 goal, covering just a fraction of the expenses. “It’s heartbreaking,” says Mum, Jill, who hopes her year-long run not only helps gather funds but also casts a light on the hidden struggles of those family’s in similar circumstances. To lend a hand in Caris’s fight, consider donating to their GoFundMe. Every little helps in this race against time and pain.