Every charity begins with a spark, and Tony was the one who created that spark when he courageously founded The Abel Foundation. As Abel’s dad, he carries the most important role of all, and it is that love which continues to shape the heart of the charity.
Dedicated, determined and deeply compassionate, Tony has always made time to listen and support others walking a similar path.
Driven by a promise to ensure mitochondrial disease is recognised, understood and heard, he leads with strength, purpose and an unwavering commitment to creating lasting change in Abel’s name.
Our champions of our mission and generous supporters.
Jordan Wylie MBE is a former soldier, bestselling author, extreme adventurer and also one of the stars of Channel 4’s BAFTA-nominated and award-winning shows Hunted and Celebrity Hunted.
Growing up on one of the largest council estates in the UK, Jordan left school early with no qualifications to his name but took the life-changing decision to join the British Army at 16 years old. He served for ten years and saw operational service in Northern Ireland and Iraq where he specialised in military intelligence, close reconnaissance and armoured warfare operations. On leaving the Army, Jordan entered the world of Maritime Security, making headlines after armed Somali pirates boarded a ship that he was protecting and Jordan found himself in charge and forced to make critical decisions for the safety of his crew. It was this experience that led Jordan to write “Citadel: The True Story of One Man’s War Against the Pirates of Somalia”, which became a number one bestseller on publication in 2017.
In October 2019, Jordan became the first person in history to row, solo and unsupported across the most dangerous strait of water on the planet (Bab el Mandeb Straits) between the Horn of Africa and Yemen. Jordan has also successfully completed numerous major charity expeditions, including the highly publicised Running Dangerously, which saw him run through Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia, and Barefoot Warrior which involved climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, the world’s highest freestanding mountain, completely barefoot! He has raised over a million pounds for charity and some of his expeditions have been made into documentaries on Sky TV. Since his time in the military, Jordan has battled with severe depression, chronic anxiety and more recently epilepsy, and now campaigns to remove the stigma from people suffering from mental illness.
In recent years, Jordan returned to education, proving it doesn’t matter where you start in life, there is always the opportunity to assert yourself and try again, he now holds a BA (Hons) and MA in the field of Security, Safety and Risk Management where he is an industry thought leader and commentator in the mainstream media with regular appearances on Sky News and the BBC.
In November 2019, Jordan released his latest book, ‘Running For My Life’.
Mandy Baggot is an international bestselling and award-winning romance writer, best-known for her laugh-out-loud romantic comedies featuring strong heroines, gorgeous heroes and always that happy-ever-after!
Mandy also has a home on the Greek island of Corfu and loves wine, cheese, Netflix, country music and handbags. Also a singer, she has taken part in ITV1’s Who Dares Sings and The X-Factor. Most recently, Mandy took part in BBC1’s Ready Steady Cook with Greek celebrity chef, Akis Petretzikis.
Mandy is a member of the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband, two children and Springsteen the cat!
Mandy has known Abel Noakes since he was born and has seen the challenges mitochondrial disease has given Abel and his family. She is honoured to have been asked to be a patron of The Abel Foundation and highlight this cause and its need for support and more awareness.
Chris Britton from The Troggs has joined the organisation to help promote its range of services.
The 72-year old lead guitarist of the Andover band, famous for songs like Love is All Around and With a Girl Like You said, “Having met Abel , with his parents and support team , we realise that there is an urgent need to establish more awareness of the problems and need for support to both sufferers and carers who are all doing their very best to cope .
However more needs to be done to raise the profile and GET MORE HELP. Regards Chris & Nid”
Advocating our cause over the seas
Katie Brooks is a dedicated ambassador for The Abel Foundation, combining her strong roots in the Test Valley community with her global travels. Over the years, Katie has actively supported the Foundation by organising and attending fundraising events, including bringing her much loved craps table to the annual ball to help create a memorable casino night experience.
Katie has recently been honoured to become an Ambassador for The Abel Foundation. As she continues her work overseas, she will now proudly take an Abel Bear with her on her travels, using each journey as an opportunity to raise awareness of mitochondrial disease, start meaningful conversations, and represent the charity both within her local community and around the world.
Katie’s commitment to The Abel Foundation is deeply personal, shaped by her own experience of living with early onset Parkinson’s and the wider impact of mitochondrial health. As an ambassador, she is passionate about supporting families, raising awareness, and helping drive meaningful change both within her local community and beyond.
Guiding our vision and governance.
Ben brings a wealth of media and marketing experience to The Abel Foundation, playing a key role in spreading awareness and reaching new audiences. Known locally as the face of Andover Radio and Love Andover, Ben has a real talent for creating impact through storytelling and community engagement.
As a trustee, he’s passionate about using his skills to support the foundation’s mission — raising awareness of mitochondrial disease and helping families feel heard and supported. With energy, creativity, and a deep connection to the local community, Ben is helping to amplify the foundation’s voice and make a lasting difference.
Beverley joins the Abel Foundation as a trustee with a deep commitment to making a difference. A lifelong animal lover, she brings compassion, energy, and a generous spirit.
Her support has been invaluable, and we’re thrilled to have her guiding our journey forward, Beverley’s heart for helping others shines through everything she does, she is Committed to supporting The Abel Foundations Mission with Empathy and a strong sense of passion.
Nicky has joined The Abel Foundation very excitedly and passionate to support us with her knowledge of Social Media and background of nursing she has been running her very successful, award winning Counselling business since 2019.
Nicky is passionate about making mental health accessible to all. Her areas of expertise are anxiety, trauma, grief and neurodiversity. She is now a fully qualified ADHD screener and assessor.
She is an also a committee member on the Jamie G Sporting Trust and has been since 2014.
She is very proud to help and support our local community with a sparkle and a smile in everything she does. Nicky’s motto is
‘it’s not what you have in your wallet that gets you through life, It’s what you have in your heart’
Claire is the dedicated Chairman of The Abel Foundation, a role she holds close to her heart. Her passion for raising awareness of mitochondrial disease comes from a deeply personal place — her son, Abel, lives with the condition. Since his diagnosis, Claire has been determined to ensure that no family feels alone on this difficult journey.
Through her work with the foundation, Claire channels her energy into offering practical help, emotional support, and a sense of community to others affected by mitochondrial disease. She is a tireless advocate, working to increase public understanding, improve access to resources, and fund vital support initiatives. Claire’s vision is to build a future where families facing mitochondrial disease feel seen, supported, and empowered.
Undy plays a vital role at The Abel Foundation, bringing events to life with his expertise in music and tech. As our go-to soundman, he ensures every event runs smoothly — from setting up equipment and fine-tuning the audio, to creating playlists that perfectly match the mood. If there’s a sound issue, Undy’s already on it before anyone else has even noticed.
His passion for music and natural ability to troubleshoot under pressure make him an essential part of the team. More than just making things sound good, Undy helps create an atmosphere where people feel welcome, relaxed, and uplifted. Thanks to his dedication, our events don’t just run — they sing.
Darren has been with The Abel Foundation from the very beginning, and his unwavering support has made him a cornerstone of the charity. As a committed volunteer, he’s there at every single event — helping with setup, lending a hand wherever it’s needed, and making sure things run without a hitch.
His dedication, reliability, and kind-hearted nature embody the spirit of the foundation. Whether it’s lifting tables, welcoming guests, or staying behind to tidy up, Darren gives his all without ever expecting anything in return. His long-standing commitment is a true reflection of the community values that The Abel Foundation stands for.
Karen has devoted more than ten years to supporting The Abel Foundation, helping to create positive opportunities and sharing awareness, her own disabilities is impacted by Mitochondrial Disease.
As Chairman of the Pride of Andover Awards, she proudly celebrates local businesses, volunteers and community champions, always shining a light on those who make a difference.
Alongside her community work, Karen runs a McKenzie Friend service within the Family Court, offering steady guidance and practical support to those who need it most.
She blends business awareness with compassion, believing that professionalism and kindness should always go hand in hand.
A thoughtful and organised event planner, Karen is known for bringing people together in ways that feel welcoming and purposeful.
Karen continues to invest her time and energy into projects that strengthen Andover and the wider ares of the UK.
