WHY AM I FUND RAISING FOR THIS CAUSE? Primarily because of my brother, when he was 10 years old, he came home from school vomiting violently a green mush. By the evening, Matthew was lying in a hospital bed with tubes and monitors carefully placed and awaited surgery. He had surgery on a Saturday, waiting for a family member to recover from unexpected surgery is like psychological no mans land; it was the first time I saw my Dad cry; and he is your typical tough guy. Luckily, things went well, but Crohn's disease is something that Matthew and others like him have to deal with on a daily basis, and the illness does not always behave when he needs it to (i.e when he had a relapse about 6 weeks before his GCSE's). When Matthew has a relapse, it affects all of us, it would be good to know that I have made a small difference to the understanding and possible treatments of Crohn's Disease.

WHAT IS CROHN'S DISEASE? It is "an inflammatory disease of the intestines that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract...It primarily causes abdominal pain, diarrhoea (which may be bloody), vomiting, or weight loss, but may also cause complications outside of the gastrointestinal tract such as skin rashes, arthritis, inflammation of the eye, tiredness and lack of concentration (Baumgart DC, Sandborn WJ (12 May 2007). "Inflammatory bowel disease: clinical aspects and established an d evolving therapies.". The Lancet 369 (9573): 1641–57).

WHAT IS THE RESEARCH AT KINGS COLLEGE THAT I AM FUND-RAISING FOR? Simply, Professor John Hermon Taylor has been researching Crohns disease for the last 18 years and has developed a NEW DNA CROHNS ANTI-MAP VACCINE, that funds are needed to test and manufacture. It is hoped that this ANIT-MAP VACCINE will significantly improve the lives of Crohns sufferers.

Below I have inserted links about the Crohns research that I am fund-raising for, on a facebook group, action.org.uk who has sponsored this reasearch & Communigate where the latest paper by John Hermon-Taylor is available. 

FACEBOOK LINK: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=95812453226&ref=share

ACTION.ORG.UK: http://www.action.org.uk/press_release/medical_charity_confirms_link_crohn’s_disease

COMMUNIGATE: Latest Science Paper from Professor John Hermon-Taylor, Aug 2009, "Map Doomsday": http://www.communigate.co.uk/sussex/thechroniccrohnscampaignuk/page75.phtml

WHAT I WILL DO? I PLAN TO GET INVOLVED IN AS MANY RACES IN A ONE YEAR PERIOD; RACE SUGGESTIONS WELCOME (ALL EXPENSES PAID BY ME)

14TH MARCH 2010 - SILVERSTONE HALF MARATHON

THANKS TO SIMON BACZKIEWICZ FOR MY TRANSPORT ON THE DAY (AWAITING RACE RESULTS FROM ORGANISERS)

28TH MARCH 2010 - HYDE PARK 10KM

17TH MAY 2010 - NHS EALING 5KM 

31ST MAY 2010 - BUPA 10KM 

(MORE RACES TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST)