Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Apologies for the brutal photos but Arthritis is a brutal disease. I have Behcets disease which affects the blood supply around my joints and causes osteoarthritis. Arthritis is my biggest challenge symptom-wise and affects every aspect of life, every day.

I'm sure people look at me and think there's nothing wrong. I know you can't see pain but believe me, I live with my lodger, 'chronic pain.' I've simply learnt how to manage it, or when I can't, I rest up. Only those close to me know my frustrations of having a brain that's alive but a body that won't let me do what I want it to! However when I had to retire from my job in a bank aged only thirty-two, I vowed I wouldn't roll over and give in, and so far I haven't.

Friday 12th October is World Arthritis Day and seeing as I had my biggest op, bilateral total jaw replacements on 13th October 2010, I thought it was rather timely to try and set myself a personal challenge and raise funds for this worthwhile cause.

Most of us know someone with Arthritis. It can strike at any age. Indeed, my son, is showing signs of developing Behcets disease, the same as I did, at a tender age. I pray it doesn't progress to give him arthritis. In the meantime, we have to keep going keeping going. In the words of Winston Churchill, 'Never, never, never give up!...'

Please help get me off on my first personal challenge - my own half marathon attempt. I can't run 13 miles as I can't do anything weight bearing, so I'm attempting 1 mile (80 lengths) swim, 2 miles walk and 10 miles cycling.

Any donations, however small, will be greatly appreciated and spur me on, especially on the cycling part!

Thank you :-)

Debbie x