Alex Hamlin
2021 - A year of Challenges
Fundraising for Caudwell LymeCo Charity
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.
Due to various fundraising efforts over previous years, 2021 is going to have to involve something far more challenging so we are not seen to be doing "just another run".
2021 will provide a wider variety (and more challenging) adventures; the charity we are supporting throughout 2021 is the Caudwell LymeCo Charity (more info below), which is one that has been of great help to Alex's sister Vicky who has not only been battling with Stage 4 endometriosis, but also Lyme disease which has gone for years un-diagnosed.
What many people don't understand is that patients (& their families) have to sacrifice so much as well as their health to pay for private treatment. Stopping the need for patients having to do so is one of Caudwell LymeCo's core objectives. They want everyone to be able to be diagnosed, cured and treated on the NHS. The amount of money some patients have to pay in order to work towards curing themselves is shocking, and in many cases this prevents patients from recovering.
From Vicky herself......
"Prior to 2016 I was fit, healthy, very active and worked long hours in a career I loved. I ran the London Marathon and cycled from London to Paris. In 2016 I had an amazing year away travelling - I climbed Machu Picchu, swam in the Mekong Delta, rode a motorbike the length of Laos and slept in the Cambodian jungle. I fell ill in India and got myself checked out at a clinic in Delhi. I was given some medication and returned home. I was in an extremely exciting phase of my life - I had a new job, a new flat and was looking forward to a fresh start. I started to get infection after infection - toe, ear, throat and came down with what I thought was bad flu and was bedridden for 2 weeks in December 2016.
This was when my life completely changed, my body crashed and I began to get issues with every part of my body. I have been housebound since and after multiple hospital admissions, more appointments than I can count and seeing close to 20 Dr's I was finally diagnosed in March 2020 with Chronic Lyme Disease and 4 co-infections. I remember having a rash on the back of my legs in May 2016 but assumed it was ringworm and thought nothing of it. I am now juggling my way through various treatment protocols. I have been told I have a good chance of getting to 80%-90% remission but it is going to take months, most likely years due to the fact it has gone un-diagnosed for 4 years and caused long lasting damage to my body."
So what are we (and family) doing to raise awareness?!
So far this year we have already completed the following:
- Yorkshire 3 Peaks run - both
- Free-fall abseil from Orbital tower in Olympic Park - both
Other events booked and confirmed are:
- Cheltenham Racecourse half marathon (June) - both
- Coast to Coast 100km Ultra marathon; Minehead to Dawlish (July) - both
- National 3 Peaks Challenge in 24 hours (Aug) - both
- Bath Half marathon (Sept) - cancelled :(
- Bristol Half marathon (Sept) - Alex, Claire & Laura
- Chicago marathon (Oct) - both
- Tokyo marathon (Mar-22) - Alex
- Edinburgh marathon (May-22) - TBC
- Edinburgh half marathon (May-22) - TBC
The other events that we are awaiting confirmation of are:
- Boston marathon (Alex - April-22 TBC, subject to COVID deferral)
So hopefully another eventful and extremely challenging (but rewarding) year, with the aim of raising as much money and awareness as possible for a charity that has supported Vicky so much already.
Anything you can donate would be greatly appreciated, no matter how little you think it might be.
Thanks in advance and we will update this as/when events are confirmed!
Cheers
Alex & Claire
----------------------------------------
About Caudwell LymeCo Charity
Our vision is for every Lyme disease patient in the UK to be treated and completely cured on the NHS.
Our mission is to fund research which finds an accurate diagnostic test for Lyme, and a treatment that cures patients at all stages of the disease.
Currently, there are serious gaps in the scientific evidence on how to diagnose Lyme disease reliably, how to cure it in everyone and even on how it spreads. The NHS and the Department of Health have openly recognised this, and Caudwell LymeCo aims to support them in working constructively to resolve this complex problem.
________
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.
Due to various fundraising efforts over previous years, 2021 is going to have to involve something far more challenging so we are not seen to be doing "just another run".
2021 will provide a wider variety (and more challenging) adventures; the charity we are supporting throughout 2021 is the Caudwell LymeCo Charity (more info below), which is one that has been of great help to Alex's sister Vicky who has not only been battling with Stage 4 endometriosis, but also Lyme disease which has gone for years un-diagnosed.
What many people don't understand is that patients (& their families) have to sacrifice so much as well as their health to pay for private treatment. Stopping the need for patients having to do so is one of Caudwell LymeCo's core objectives. They want everyone to be able to be diagnosed, cured and treated on the NHS. The amount of money some patients have to pay in order to work towards curing themselves is shocking, and in many cases this prevents patients from recovering.
From Vicky herself......
"Prior to 2016 I was fit, healthy, very active and worked long hours in a career I loved. I ran the London Marathon and cycled from London to Paris. In 2016 I had an amazing year away travelling - I climbed Machu Picchu, swam in the Mekong Delta, rode a motorbike the length of Laos and slept in the Cambodian jungle. I fell ill in India and got myself checked out at a clinic in Delhi. I was given some medication and returned home. I was in an extremely exciting phase of my life - I had a new job, a new flat and was looking forward to a fresh start. I started to get infection after infection - toe, ear, throat and came down with what I thought was bad flu and was bedridden for 2 weeks in December 2016.
This was when my life completely changed, my body crashed and I began to get issues with every part of my body. I have been housebound since and after multiple hospital admissions, more appointments than I can count and seeing close to 20 Dr's I was finally diagnosed in March 2020 with Chronic Lyme Disease and 4 co-infections. I remember having a rash on the back of my legs in May 2016 but assumed it was ringworm and thought nothing of it. I am now juggling my way through various treatment protocols. I have been told I have a good chance of getting to 80%-90% remission but it is going to take months, most likely years due to the fact it has gone un-diagnosed for 4 years and caused long lasting damage to my body."
So what are we (and family) doing to raise awareness?!
So far this year we have already completed the following:
- Yorkshire 3 Peaks run - both
- Free-fall abseil from Orbital tower in Olympic Park - both
Other events booked and confirmed are:
- Cheltenham Racecourse half marathon (June) - both
- Coast to Coast 100km Ultra marathon; Minehead to Dawlish (July) - both
- National 3 Peaks Challenge in 24 hours (Aug) - both
- Bath Half marathon (Sept) - cancelled :(
- Bristol Half marathon (Sept) - Alex, Claire & Laura
- Chicago marathon (Oct) - both
- Tokyo marathon (Mar-22) - Alex
- Edinburgh marathon (May-22) - TBC
- Edinburgh half marathon (May-22) - TBC
The other events that we are awaiting confirmation of are:
- Boston marathon (Alex - April-22 TBC, subject to COVID deferral)
So hopefully another eventful and extremely challenging (but rewarding) year, with the aim of raising as much money and awareness as possible for a charity that has supported Vicky so much already.
Anything you can donate would be greatly appreciated, no matter how little you think it might be.
Thanks in advance and we will update this as/when events are confirmed!
Cheers
Alex & Claire
----------------------------------------
About Caudwell LymeCo Charity
Our vision is for every Lyme disease patient in the UK to be treated and completely cured on the NHS.
Our mission is to fund research which finds an accurate diagnostic test for Lyme, and a treatment that cures patients at all stages of the disease.
Currently, there are serious gaps in the scientific evidence on how to diagnose Lyme disease reliably, how to cure it in everyone and even on how it spreads. The NHS and the Department of Health have openly recognised this, and Caudwell LymeCo aims to support them in working constructively to resolve this complex problem.
________
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.