<p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Calibri;">Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.<br> &nbsp;<br> I have chosen to run the London Marathon for OCD Action.<br> <br> It is believed that around 1-2% of the population has OCD, which represents almost 1,250,000 people in the UK. Yet it is still a relatively unknown and misunderstood disorder. It is partly because of this that it currently takes 12 years on average, from the first onset of symptoms before someone with OCD gets effective treatment. That&rsquo;s 12 years of living with a debilitating disorder.<br> <br> There are many misconceptions about OCD and because of the stigma attached to mental illness suffers can find it a lonely place and often suffer in silence. People with OCD can, however, appear to function perfectly normally despite being greatly distressed. This often makes it possible for people with OCD to hide their OCD because of this; OCD has often been called the &rsquo;secretive disorder&rsquo;.<br> <br> Clearly OCD will have an effect on the sufferer, but it can be difficult to understand the effect it can have on their families too. However much you love the person you are caring for, the emotional and physical demands of caring can be extremely stressful. Things can be particularly difficult if you live with them and you feel you have no time to relax and unwind, OCD is all-encompassing and all family members are inextricably involved with the sufferer&rsquo;s illness.<br> <br> So I&rsquo;m running for all those that suffer in secret - OCD suffers and their families.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Calibri;">Thank you for your donation.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Calibri;">Joanne xxx</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>