Meet Jodie and Nicki: the mother-and-daughter team behind our Charity Ball

 

This November, Hughes APS Trust will hold a special Charity Ball organised by two remarkable volunteer fundraisers, Jodie and her mum, Nicki. 

 

Both Jodie and Nicki live with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), giving them a deeply personal understanding of the condition and the impact it can have on patients and their families. 

 

The pair have organised a successful fundraising ball before, in support of LUPUS UK. They are now generously bringing their experience, enthusiasm and hard work to Hughes APS Trust. 

 

 

When Jodie was just 17 and sitting her A-level exams, she suddenly became critically unwell. 

 

Over the following six months, she experienced repeated hospital admissions involving multiple organs. An echocardiogram eventually revealed a large mass filling the right atrium of her heart. 

 

Jodie underwent life-saving open-heart surgery. The mass was initially believed to be a benign tumour, but it was later discovered to be a blood clot caused by APS. 

 

Jodie now takes warfarin and has regular blood tests as part of managing the condition—an experience that will be familiar to many patients and caregivers within the APS community. 

 

For people with high-risk APS, warfarin remains an important treatment because newer blood thinners have not shown the same effectiveness in preventing recurrent blood clots, particularly strokes. Continued research is essential to improve and expand the treatment options available to people living with APS. 

 

 

Motivated by their experiences, Jodie and Nicki are working incredibly hard to create a memorable evening while raising vital funds for Hughes APS Trust. 

 

Funds raised through the ball will help the Trust support patients and families, improve awareness and understanding of APS, educate healthcare professionals and encourage research into better treatments. 

 

We are incredibly grateful to Jodie and Nicki for volunteering their time and energy, and to Jodie for sharing her personal story with our community. 

 

 

Guests will enjoy a welcome drink and meal, followed by entertainment from a live band and DJ. The evening will also include a raffle and live auction. 

 

Date: Saturday 14 November 2026 

Time: 6pm 

Venue: Village Hotel, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough, GU14 7BF 

Dress code: Black tie 

Tickets: £80 per person 

 

Tickets are limited, so please contact us as soon as possible if you would like to attend. 

 

To book your place or register your interest, email Amy at amy@hughesapstrust.org. 

 

If you are unable to attend, you can still support Jodie and Nicki by sharing the event, donating a raffle or auction prize, or introducing the Trust to a business that may be interested in helping.