I am running the Royal Parks Half Marathon In London on October 11th 2026.

As some of you are aware over the past 2 years I have been in and out of hospital with multiple hospital stays which has ended in me being diagnosed with Small Bowel Crohn’s Disease meaning for the next year, at least, of my life I will be on regular medication, with the hope I go into remission and stay in remission. I want to give back to a charity that have been somewhere I can go for not only support but a whole host of information that has been able to support me through my diagnosis and also into my future.

For the first 18 months of my diagnosis I was diagnosed as having IBDU (Inflammatory Bowel Disease Unclassifed). This type of IBD affects 10% of the IBD population with overlapping characteristics of Crohn’s and Colitis, where many clinical tests are inconclusive but symptoms and certain testing is positive, normally with further testing the diagnosis is reclassified once there is more information.

Luckily with further testing and a great doctor on my side I have now been formally diagnosed as having Small Bowel Crohn’s Disease which has lead to me starting my infusion/injection journey which will hopefully bring me into remission, but that doesn’t come without a price with still having to regularly visit the hospital for blood tests to check my body is accepting the medication and if this does not happen it will mean trailing other medications.

Crohn's & Colitis UK are the UK's leading charity for Crohn's and Colitis. Right now, over 500,000 people in the UK are living with a lifelong disease that many people have never heard of. I am taking part in the 2026 Royal Parks Half Marathon to support Crohn's&Colitis UK, and your donation can help Crohn's &Colitis UK's mission to improve diagnosis and treatment; to fund research and raise awareness.