About the Freya Foundation

The Freya Foundation began with one family, one little girl, and a diagnosis no one could explain. Today, it is a close‑knit community of families, clinicians and supporters determined that no one has to face PDH deficiency alone.

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Meet the team

From one family’s shock to a shared community

When Freya was diagnosed with PDH deficiency just before her first birthday, her parents, Kelly and Dave, found themselves in a world with very few answers and even less support. They were left to piece together information, chase appointments, and carry the emotional weight of a rare diagnosis largely on their own.​

They set up The Freya Foundation so other families would not have to go through that same isolation. What began as a way to raise awareness for Freya’s condition has grown into the only known UK charity dedicated specifically to PDH deficiency – a place where families can find understanding, practical information and genuine connection.​

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The Freya Foundation supports, informs and advocates for children and families affected by PDH deficiency, so they can access the best possible care and the best chance at a positive life.

The Freya Foundation is the first and only UK charity focused solely on PDH deficiency, combining lived family experience with specialist medical partnerships.​​

Families and clinicians describe the foundation as a trusted first port of call: small enough to know people by name, experienced enough to help them navigate complex treatment decisions, research and day‑to‑day life with PDH.

Founded and run by families who have sat in the waiting rooms, read the leaflets and asked the same difficult questions.
Recognised and referenced by hospitals across the UK, and working alongside MetabERN and Great Ormond Street Hospital to improve care and guidance.
From annual family weekends to everyday messages of support, the foundation is a space where families, friends and professionals back each other up.

Behind our foundation

We're a small team of parents, trustees, volunteers and clinicians who give their time, energy and expertise to keep families supported and research moving forward.

Our founders

Kelly and Dave helped establish The Freya Foundation after their daughter Freya’s diagnosis. Alongside juggling family life, Kelly leads the charity’s support for newly diagnosed families and takes on ambitious fundraising challenges – from running multiple marathons to pulling planes – to keep research and services going.

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Our founders

Our trustees

A small board of trustees oversees the charity’s governance and direction, ensuring donations are used responsibly to support families and fund meaningful research.

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Our trustees

Our volunteers

Volunteers help with everything from events and admin to family weekends and awareness campaigns, keeping the charity personal, responsive and down‑to‑earth.

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Our volunteers

Our medical advisors

The foundation works with a medical board of metabolic and neurology specialists who advise on information, research and best practice in PDH deficiency. Families benefit from this expertise through clearer guidance and more coordinated care.

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Our medical advisors

Our medical board

Our Medical Board brings trusted clinical expertise to our work — helping us share reliable information, support families with confidence and drive better understanding and care for people affected by PDH deficiency.

Camille Newby

Germaine Pierre

Prof. Shamima Rahman

With thanks to

Questions families often ask

The Freya Foundation was founded by Freya’s parents, Kelly and Dave, after discovering how little information and support existed when their daughter was diagnosed with PDH deficiency. They wanted to make sure other families didn’t have to go through the same experience alone.

The Freya Foundation focuses solely on PDH deficiency and is led by families who live with the condition every day, working hand‑in‑hand with medical experts. That mix of lived experience and specialist knowledge helps keep support real, responsive and relevant.

Support ranges from one‑to‑one contact, counselling and family meet‑ups to clear information and research advocacy, tailored to what each family needs at different stages of their journey.

The charity is based in the UK but increasingly connects with families and clinicians across Europe and beyond, especially through its work with MetabERN and international research projects.

The team keeps things intentionally personal: real conversations, direct contact with the same people over time, and a focus on building relationships rather than ticking boxes or following rigid processes.

The Freya Foundation collaborates with metabolic and neurology teams in the UK and Europe, including Great Ormond Street Hospital and MetabERN, and has helped drive key PDH research projects.

People support the charity in all sorts of ways – from taking on fundraising challenges to volunteering skills, joining events or making regular donations to sustain research and family support.

Ready to connect?

Reaching out to a community for the first time takes courage. We promise to meet you with warmth, understanding and no judgment – because we've all been where you are or are standing beside someone who is.

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