Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I started running at the beginning of 2014 and have been training for this date since then. My aim always to raise money for this deserving charity. I completed my first 10k in June 2014 and first half marathon in October. 

I undertook the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge at the beginning of February and although didn't manage to complete due to snow and lack of day light hour I did 19miles over a 7 1/2 hour period. My training over the next four weeks will consist of regular gym sessions and long runs over the weekend. I am hoping to complete 37 out of the 42km before standing on the start line at Brighton.

Please see Helen's Story below.

Crohn’s Disease is a condition that causes inflammation of the digestive system (also known as the gastrointestinal tract or gut). Inflammation is the body’s reaction to injury or irritation, and can cause redness, swelling and pain.

Crohn’s is sometimes described as a chronic condition. This means that it is ongoing and life-long, although you may have periods of good health (remission) as well as times when symptoms are more active (relapses or flare-ups).  At present there is no cure for Crohn’s, but drugs and sometimes surgery can give long periods of relief from symptoms.

This charity is so close to my heart as my best friend Helen was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in 2009. Helen’s Crohn’s has been particularly aggressive and she has not been in remission since diagnosis.  She has had hundreds of hospital appointments over the last few years and constant complications with reactions to medication and failed treatment. Throughout all this she has remained strong and continued work to support her family. Helen is such an inspiration to me as throughout all the hospital admissions and appointments she always has a smile on her face and lives life to the full, when well enough to do so.

In 2010 she was advised by her consultant to have major surgery to create a temporary stoma to allow her bowel to rest, treatment wasn’t working and she was in serve pain on a daily basis. After recovering from major surgery she was back at work shortly after. Unfortunately even after major surgery Helen’s symptoms did not stop, she was then put on a course of daily injections adalimumab which gave her a serve drug induced lupus. After countless number of appointments, courses of steroids and antibiotics the rash was brought under control however, as this treatment didn’t work leading to a total proctocolectomy removing all of her large bowel.

Even after 22 operations over 2 years Crohn’s will still not allow my friend to lead a normal pain free life and continues to have flare ups. She is now on a trial drug that costs over £30,000 a year which has to be approved by a specialist panel due to the cost. Hopefully the money raised will help find a cure. 

Please donate to this amazing cause to find a cure for such a debilitating disease.

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.