<p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>We are running the Paris marathon this year in the hope of raising money for the St Mark's Hospital Foundation. St. Mark's is the world's first specialist hospital for bowel diseases, and it has, amongst other things, set up the Polyposis Registry.</strong></p> <p><strong>We chose to fundraise for this hospital as we have had two members of our close family die of polyposis, and the Polyposis Registry carries out vital research into this rare and inherited condition.</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What is Polyposis?</span></strong></p> <p>Polyposis (or FAP: Familial Adenomatous Polyposis) is caused by a single genetic defect. It mainly affects the large intestine, where 'polyps' begin to grow in large numbers. Some polyps can be harmless, but many are at risk of becoming cancerous. Unless detected and treated early, polyposis is a life-threatening condition.</p> <p>Polyposis is usually inherited from a parent who has the condition. Each child, boy or girl, born to a person with polyposis has a 50:50 chance of inheriting the gene that causes it. The incidence of the genetic mutation is between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 15,000 births. By the age of 35, 95% of those with polyposis will have developed polyps<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">.</span></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What treatment is available?</span></strong></p> <p>As there are usually too many polyps present to remove them one by one, there are three possible options for treatment, all of which involve removing the colon entirely. Without this colectomy, colon cancer is virtually inevitable.&nbsp;</p> <p>We are extremely grateful for any donation you can make for what we believe to be a very worthy cause!&nbsp;</p> <p>Many thanks,</p> <p>Natalie and Chris</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>