On 11th September 2022, I will be running the Great North Run (GNR) to help raise funds for the National Eczema Society.

Why am I doing this?

My five-year old son, Sachin, has suffered from chronic Eczema since he was diagnosed as a baby. Our family has been on a journey to manage his condition in a way that his life can be as happy as possible. The journey has been stressful, having to see him suffering with red raw, itchy, flaky, skin, often not sleeping for days or weeks on end as he is so itchy and in so much pain. A lot of the treatment has simply been trial and error as there is no cure and no one size fits all way to treat it. We're still not completely sure we have done all we can to manage it and really hope that he eventually grows out of it.

I myself suffer with eczema, not as severely as Sachin, but enough for me to appreciate how stressful and uncomfortable it must be for him having to deal with it as a young child all the time.

My wife Katy has been following the social media pages of the National Eczema Society for a while and encouraged me to fund-raise, given the cause is so close to our hearts. We really want to raise awareness, not just about how it affects those with the condition, but also those that have to live with care responsibilties.

Who are the National Eczema Society (NES) ?

Eczema is a skin conditon that affects 1 in every 5 children and 1 in every 10 adults in the UK at some point. The NES in a UK charity which has 2 main aims: to provide people with independent and practical advice about treating and managing eczema, and to raise awareness of the needs of those with eczema with healthcare professionals, teachers and the government.

If we had heard of them earlier, I know we would have had more support to support Sachin's early stage eczema.

The NES only has a handful of staff and is a small charity, so rely on donations to help their cause.
There is currently no cure for eczema, cases are on the rise, and it is often underestimated how significantly it affects the lives of those who suffer from it. The NES supports funding research into a cure that would significanlty transform the lives of millions of sufferers in the UK, of which 20% are school children.

Why would running the GNR would be a big deal for me?

Prior to 2017, I had no running experience whatsoever. I started to take part in Parkrun, on occassion with Sachin in his push chair which was an enjoyable bonding activity. At the start of lockdown 2020, I had more time to train thanks to not having to commute, and gradually worked up to the half-marathon distance once in July 2020.

Whilst I have never ever run an official event, I relish the challenge and will be running the GNR for everyone who has to live with eczema on a daily basis.

Thank you so much for your support and kind donations.