A RYEDALE charity which is a world-leading resource into a life-threatening brain condition will celebrate its 21st anniversary by departing on a UK roadshow on Saturday.

The Encephalitis Society, in Malton, is visiting 21 cities in 21 days to raise awareness about the little-known condition that can strike at any age.

Survivors and families affected by encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, will speak about how it has stolen the person they once were – often robbing them of their memories and leaving them with an acquired brain injury that in some cases means returning to work or education can be difficult.

The roadshow begins in Aberdeen on Saturday, and will visit Liverpool, Newcastle, Belfast, Cardiff and Leeds on Tuesday, August 4, among other cities, before finishing at City Hall, London, on Saturday, August 22.

The Encephalitis Society’s aim is to spread the message about the condition which affects more than 6,000 people in the UK every year.

Estimates suggest it costs the NHS about £40m a year – not including the costs of rehabilitation and long-term care – and yet is less well known than motor neurone disease and certain forms of meningitis, even though it affects more people each year.

Dr Ava Easton, chief executive of The Encephalitis Society, said: “Most people have not heard of Encephalitis unless it has happened to them or a loved one and we are determined to change that.

“Encephalitis is a thief – robbing families of their loved ones or, if they survive, the person they once knew.

“It steals memories, personalities, and abilities we take for granted: concentration, attention, thinking, judgement, inhibition.

“For many of our members there are additional challenges such as epilepsy and levels of fatigue so great that returning to a normal working life can be difficult.”

Any proceeds to The Encephalitis Society go towards providing support for people affected by encephalitis and their families and helps to fund medical research into the condition.

l Full details about The Encephalitis Society’s 21st Anniversary Roadshow can be found at encephalitis.info