Nathalie Pearson

Nathalie, a qualified specialist physiotherapist, has two Bachelor of Science degrees and practised in the NHS, New Zealand and privately before taking a career break to care for her young children. As an experienced and comprehensive practitioner, Nathalie was committed to identifying the root cause of symptoms and used a holistic and individualised approach to patient care to assist each patient to reach their own goals.

Concerned for the welfare of her NHS colleagues when the pandemic began, Nathalie mobilised and coordinated a countywide team making scrubs for hospitals, hospices and GP surgeries. She then met Sammie in September 2020. Nathalie recalls "I witnessed firsthand the challenges that Sammie and the families she was connecting to were facing in real-time. Family after family, child after child, all with similar stories, pictures and symptoms. Sammie’s vision to help was inspirational and to be commended especially given how poorly she and her family were then. Families were frightened and help from elsewhere was not forthcoming. Sammie was there".

Nathalie has since devoted all of her free time to Sammie and Long Covid Kids from assisting with the very first research article and interviews to building the international team and brand. Nathalie's passion was the driving force behind the charity application, and in 2021, Long Covid Kids became the first UK-based international charity for children living with Long Covid and is recognised by the NHS and the Centre for Disease Control in the USA.

Nathalie is a determined advocate for children and school staff devoted to ensuring that children, young people and their caregivers are recognised, supported and assisted with their COVID-19 recovery.

"I am still searching for reassurance of the impact of Covid infection on children. Research lived experience and data have given us a clearer picture of the situation and I am as committed now as I was back then to doing whatever is necessary to help Sammie and achieve our charity’s objectives. I will continue to share our community's truths and I am determined that no family should feel alone. Plans are as big, bright and bold as they were back then, the difference being that we now have a small army of beautiful people to help.

Nathalie Pearson. Founding Member, Development & Strategy Team Lead

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