Last week, Staffordshire’s county commissioner, Tracey Chmaberlain visited Cheadle Guides to present Olivia Cartlidge with a Girlguiding Hero Award.
Liv was diagnosed with a really rare illness a while ago after struggling with many symptoms for a long time. She has PANDAS, (Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), a condition where a strep infection triggers a sudden, severe onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), tics, anxiety, or mood changes in children.
She is now on the youth advisory panel for PANDAS and earlier this month went to the Houses of Parliament to lobby MPs to raise awareness of the condition.
Division commissioner Jane McFarlane said, “Liv has really battled through her illness and her bravery is awe-inspiring. We are all super proud of her!”
