Warrington Rallies for Brave Finnley and Addison’s Awareness

When Warrington mum Stacey Atkinson popped into the studio this morning, she brought with her not just a smile, but an extraordinary story of courage – and a special young man.

In December 2025, Stacey’s son, Finnley, suddenly became critically ill while at a football training academy  in the United States. He was rushed to hospital and spent five days in intensive care after suffering an adrenal crisis – a life‑threatening complication of Addison’s disease, a rare condition that often goes undiagnosed.

Addison’s disease is a lifelong condition where the adrenal glands stop producing essential hormones, including cortisol, which the body needs to cope with illness and stress. Without daily steroid medication, people with Addison’s can become dangerously unwell very quickly – and without the right treatment in time, the condition can be fatal.

During an adrenal crisis, patients need an emergency steroid injection to save their life. But unlike other conditions, there is currently no simple, ready‑to‑use auto‑injector pen; instead, the medication has to be mixed and given by a standard needle – something that can feel impossible in the middle of a frightening medical emergency.

Stacey, who runs Velocity Dance in Woolston, told us how terrifying it was to watch Finnley fight for his life so far from home – and how determined the family now are to turn that experience into something positive.

Together, they are on a mission to raise awareness of Addison’s disease and support vital medical research, so that other families might be spared the same ordeal.

A special fundraising event

On Friday 15th May, Stacey and her amazing supporters are hosting a big fundraising night at Alford Sports and Social Club in Warrington, all in aid of Addison’s disease research and awareness. It promises to be a fantastic evening, packed with entertainment, laughter and plenty of chances to dig deep for a brilliant cause.

Taking to the stage will be the fabulous Drag Queen Kiki Inferno, crowd‑pleasing singing act 12, Holly Jay and Jake Liked – plus a special performance of The Full Monty, directed by Stacey herself.

If you know Stacey from Velocity Dance, you’ll already guess this is going to be an unmissable show with a whole lot of heart!

Every ticket bought, every drink raised and every pound donated will help families like Stacey and Finnley’s by funding research and pushing for better emergency treatment for people living with Addison’s disease. And just as importantly, nights like this spread the word, so more people recognise the signs of a crisis and get help fast.

You can catch Stacey’s full, emotional interview and hear Finnley’s story in his mum’s own words  below.

And if you’d like to support, we’ve also popped the event details and JustGiving page at the end of this post.