Posted on: Tuesday 7 June 2022
‘I can’t make it stop’ is helping to educate on Tourette’s Awareness Day.
To mark World Tourette’s Day on June 7, the Leader of Torfaen Council, Cllr Anthony Hunt paid a visit to St. Alban’s RC High School to meet pupil and published author, Lucy-Marie Phillips.
Lucy-Marie, a year 7 pupil at St. Alban’s started having symptoms when she was 8 and was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome when she was 11.
Lucy-Marie’s book ‘I can’t make it stop’ is her personal diary on living with Tourette’s and was written to help herself and help educate young people and older people.
Cllr Hunt said: "I saw Lucy-Marie on the BBC Breakfast news and to be a published author at such a young age is a fantastic achievement.
"The book is really attractive and informative and I’m sure will educate people and help raise awareness.
"The council is purchasing a copy of Lucie’s book ‘I can’t make it stop’ for every school in the borough to help raise awareness of the condition for all pupils and staff and it was lovely to see just how happy Lucy-Marie is in school.’
St. Alban’s Headteacher Steven Lord said: "Lucy-Marie is a fantastic pupil and has spoken in assembly about living with Tourette’s and she’s been brilliant at helping her friends and staff in the school have a much better understanding of Tourette’s syndrome."
To mark the end of Tourette’s awareness month on June 15, Torfaen Council will light up the Civic Centre in Pontypool, in Teal for Tourette’s and Lucy-Marie will have her achievements recognised at the next full meeting of the council on June 28.
Lucy-Marie will be signing copies of her book and having a coffee morning at Pontypool Indoor Market on Saturday, June 11 between 10am and 1pm.