Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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.

I'm not quite sure what had come over me when i signed up to do the London Marathon 2017?! But I am, and i'm hoping to raise a whole load of money for this amazing charity. Crohn's and Colitis UK are a charity who raise money to support people with any form of inflammatory bowel disease as well as funding research to try and find a cure for these diseases. 

I have chosen to fundraise for this charity because in January 2013 I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. Ulcerative Colitis is a condition that causes inflammation and ulceration of the inner lining of the rectum and colon (the large bowel). In UC, tiny ulcers develop on the surface of the lining and these may bleed and produce pus. 

Ulcerative Colitis is 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). Although there has been a lot of research, we still don’t really know what causes Ulcerative Colitis.  However, advances have been made in recent years, particularly in genetics and its now believed that UC is caused by a combination of factors:

- the genes you’re born with
- plus an abnormal reaction of the digestive system to bacteria in the intestine
- along with an unknown 'trigger' that could include viruses, other bacteria, diet, stress, or something else in the environment.

There isn't a cure at the moment but a lot can be done with medication and surgery to help keep symptoms under control.

Running a marathon is a huge challenge for me. I am far from a natural runner and i am by no means fast! But I am absolutely determined to do it. Anything you can donate is hugely appreciated.