Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

Five years ago the prospect of walking 85 miles along Hadrian's Wall would have seemed no challenge at all:  Sally and I have been keen walkers all our lives and have always been fit and healthy.

But since the onset of all kinds of seemingly unrelated health problems five years ago (chronic fatigue, arthritis, abdominal pain)  and finally  being diagnosed with GeneticHaemochromatosis, this will be no mean feat for me. 

Sufferers of haemochromatosis, like me,  absorb excess iron from food which then accumulates in the body's joints and organs, leading to debilitating and life-threatening complications including liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, diabetes and heart failure.

By the time  I was diagnosed  my level of Serum Ferritin  ( a key indicator of iron overload)  was over 30 times  greater than the normal level.

Fortunately my liver was  only mildly damaged  and  my heart is still healthy. However  I  still suffer  from chronic fatigue and  painful  arthritis, particularly in my  knees & toes.

I was fortunate to be diagnosed early, but many are not so lucky.

This has made Sally and I  more determined to rise to the challenge of this walk in  order to raise awareness of this little-known, but not uncommon condition, so that it can be detected earlier and treated in more people before it becomes life threatening. 

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.