I was diagnosed with Crohns Colitis in 1999. I am very fortunate to be able to say that my Crohns is in relative remission, although I do still have good days and bad days; and I never forget that I am on borrowed time until it rears its ugly head again. Which is why I'm making the most of this year while I am relatively fit and healthy to push myself and the boundaries on what I think I can achieve. 

Crohns Disease is a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. It is a debilitating illness. It causes inflammation that can occur at any point in the digestive tract, although typically occurs in the small or large bowel. It is an autoimmune condition; it involves the immune system attacking the bowel. It can cause severe abdominal pain, diarrhoea, tiredness and fatigue, ulcers, appetite and weight loss, to name but just a few. It can also cause other issues such as inflammation of the eye, liver, and joints - again, to name just a few. It is a lifelong condition; there is no cure. And it can be incredibly serious. 

Treatment can include steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs to suppress the immune system, potent 'biologic' drugs - all of which can cause a range of sometimes equally distressing side-effects, including being highly susceptible to viruses and infections. And there is, of course, surgery. In general, treatments are becoming more effective. 

But we need more research into Inflammatory Bowel Disease to further improve management of these diseases, and ultimately find a cure. 

Which is why I want to raise funds towards this much-needed research, and raise awareness of these conditions, and brings me to what I want to do this year: a collection of challenges throughout 2018 where I will be challenging myself to things I never even thought possible a few years ago. 

As well as the Crohn's, I had spinal surgery in 2012 on a ruptured disc. After being unfit and unwell for years, I took up running and completed my first 5k at the end of 2016. This sparked a new love for exercise as I gradually started to feel stronger and healthier. Throughout 2017, I found a love for cycling and completed a few sportives. I have found that, through medication, diet and exercise I am now fitter and stronger than I have ever been.

At the end of 2017, after injuring my foot, I took up swimming in place of running. Suddenly I realised I could now swim, bike and run - the three elements of a triathlon. A few weeks ago I took the plunge and entered not one, but two! (Not much more than 18 months after taking up running, I'm thinking about triathlons!)

Not wanting to be satisfied with just that, I wanted to set myself a series of challenges this year. I know I am limited by what my Crohns and my back allow me to do on any given day, and I certainly know that I may not always be this healthy and fit, so I wanted to make the most of it while I can. 

So, between April and October this year I challenged myself to doing at least one event per month - roughly broken down into three phases, swimming, cycling and running. 

_________________________________________________________________________

The challenges are now complete! I completed my first swimming event, first triathlon, longest ever cycle ride and first sportive on my own. 

In total, during the events, I swam, cycled and ran over 436kms - 271 miles - for Crohns and Colitis UK:

• Swam 1.46 kms (0.9 miles)
• Cycled 428 kms  (266 miles)
• Ran 6.8 kms (4.2 miles)

I have been training for these events since January and including my training I have swum, cycled and run a total of 3516 kms (2185 miles).

Below is a list of the events I completed throughout 2018:

• April - Swimathon: (COMPLETE!) 1 km swim as part of a team of 5 (team swim of 5k in total)
• May - Stradbroke Triathlon: (COMPLETE!) 160 metre swim. 17 km (10 mile) bike ride. 3km run. All one after the other :)
• June - Culford Triathlon: (COMPLETE) 300 metre swim. 21 km (13 mile) bike ride. 4km run. 
• July (1st) - Tour Ride: (COMPLETE) . Following the route of the OVO Womens Tour. 80 miles on the bike.
• July (8th) - Women on Wheels Bury St Eds Bike Ride (COMPLETE) 50 miles on the bike.
• August - Crafted Classique Sportive: (COMPLETE) 100km (63 miles) on the bike. 
• September - Cycle Swarm Ipswich 2018: (COMPLETE) 50 miles on the bike.
• October* - was hoping to do my first 10k run at Martlesham but the event has been cancelled. Due to that, the septoplasty and the hip injury earlier in the year, I will defer the 10k run to 2019.

So, that's me. Who couldn't run for the bus a few years ago (and who still struggles on some days!)

So please, donate as little or as much as you can spare towards my fundraising page in aid of Crohns and Colitis UK. Every penny you donate will motivate me throughout the months of training and during the events themselves.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity