Name: Lilly Kate King
Age: 16
Where do you call home? My home is Winnsboro, Louisiana, which is in the northeast part of the state.
Education: I am a sophomore at Franklin Parish High School, where I am an honor student.
You are not alone. The entire FA community, also known as the FAmily, is taking this journey with you. Meet a few of our dynamic people with FA below. New Meet the Community interviews are posted every Monday, so be sure to visit often. Please e-mail
The FARA Ambassadors are a group of people living with FA who are committed to supporting FARA in the search for a treatment and cure. They represent the community by speaking at events, meeting pharmaceutical partners, giving media interviews, and more.
Name: Lilly Kate King
Age: 16
Where do you call home? My home is Winnsboro, Louisiana, which is in the northeast part of the state.
Education: I am a sophomore at Franklin Parish High School, where I am an honor student.
Name: Marieke van Driel
Age: 28
Where do you call home? Eindhoven (the Netherlands)
Education/degree: At Eindhoven University of Technology, I received my Master of Science (biomedical engineering) at the age of 24. My career started at the innovation site Eindhoven at Philips for two years full-time. Afterward, I kind of retired because of a lack of energy. However, I like to be busy, and I signed a small contract at Eindhoven University of Technology. My role is to help set up the education of biomedical engineering.
Who do you live with? I live on my own.
Name: Sam Hill
Age: 16
Where do you call home? Annapolis, Maryland
Education: Current grade - Junior in high school
Who do you live with? My parents and two sisters
What's a typical day for you? I go to school every day and spend my weekends doing homework and spending time with my family.
How long have you known you are living with FA? I was diagnosed by a neurologist in November of 2015
Are there any others with FA in your family? My younger sister Rebecca has FA as well.
Name: Şeyma Öztürk
Age: 23 years old
Where do you call home? Denizli, Turkey
Education degree(s): Post Graduate Education/ Be an academician and being the first academic FA patients in Turkey.
Who do you live with? I'm single, no kids. I'm living with my family.
What's a typical day for you? I wake up, have breakfast, have a rest, watch the series on the computer, read books, sleep.
How long have you known you are living with FA? I was 12 years old, and under the control of a doctor at Dokuz Eylül University in Izmir, the tests were performed because they suspected FA.
Name: Henry Sykes
Age: I am 22
Where do you call home? Kent, United Kingdom
Education degree(s): I have qualifications in English, Mathematics, ICT, and a BTEC in Motorsport Engineering. I'm very interested in Social Media and provide consultancy for a number of local companies.
Who do you live with? I live with my parents, brother and his girlfriend.
What's a typical day for you? I'm contracted two days a week to assist a local landscaping supplier to help manage their website and online orders and general office work. I then assist other private clients with online advice and support.