Hi! Welcome to my just giving page! I’m running the London Landmarks Half Marathon for Mental Health UK. I’m really excited and nervous because I’ve never ran further than 5k! Any donations would be so appreciated!

Okay time for the sob story…no pity I’m still flying high!

Over the past year I have gone through the most difficult journey and one I’ve been embarrassed about talking about to anyone who wasn’t in my close circle. Earlier this year I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and it’s been a hard pill to swallow. So here’s my story if you are interested or just nosy!

In late 2024 I went into my final year of university and started experiencing adominal pain, back pain, sickness everytime I ate food and was always fatigued. I went to the doctor for each symptom and they always managed to come up with an explanation, but never one that connected all the dots. When I was 14, I was told I was lactose intolerant, when I was 19 I was told not to eat gluten anymore, so for a lot of my life I missed out on all the yummy things. In October 2024, things took a major turn downhill, I started to lose weight, my hair and nails became brittle, I’d feel faint a lot of the time (including collapsing at Machu Piccu) and I was just generally extremely unhealthy. I was accused of taking ozempic, of having an eating disorder, people asking for my ‘weight loss tricks’, and I had no answers for any of these questions: it was incredibly frustrating. I ignored the negatives of my symptoms for a long time because I thought I looked great, and if I look healthy, surely that means I am healthy right?! WRONG. After a bunch of doctor appointments and every test under the sun, I was diagnosed with crohns. I found out my nan had colitis, and that we actually have the same trigger food…cucumber! How bizarre! It was a mix of emotions, relief that I wasn’t just being dramatic and there was actually something wrong, devastation that I had a lifelong chronic illness with no cure, excitement that I could now eat bread and ice cream without worrying about the consequences! I was just utterly overwhelmed. My best friends will know that I deal with upsetting situations with humour and ignore how I’m really feeling. Along with my physical health, my mental health started to take a dip, but I still felt the pressure to perform and be care-free Lottie that my friends and family know so well, which added fuel to the fire, it was a never ending spiral. That’s where Mental Health UK came in. I reached out to them and was able to access the support I didn’t want to admit I needed and it changed everything for me, and I’m so grateful to the organisation. Without this support there is no way I would be healthy enough to take on a challenge like this. I’m no longer embarrassed about what I’m living with and want to break the stigma around the condition. I’m determined to navigate this situation with all the grace and decorum I can muster! Chronic and iconic is the way forward for me!

So for me, this isn’t just a way to get into an amazing running event, it’s a cause truly close to my heart and any support anyone is able to give is so appreciated. If anyone is dealing with any similar issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, or to Mental Health UK and don’t suffer in silence! London Landmarks here I come!

From Mental Health UK:

I’m running the London Landmarks Half Marathon 2026 for Mental Health UK! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️On Sunday 12 April 2026, I’ll be taking on 13.1 miles through the heart of London to raise vital funds for Mental Health UK – a charity that supports people affected by mental health problems across the UK.Mental health challenges can affect anyone, at any time. Mental Health UK provides advice, information, and life-changing services to make sure no one has to face them alone.I’d love your support to help me reach my fundraising target. Every pound you give will go towards supporting people when they need it most. Please donate what you can – together we can make a real difference. 💙Thank you so much for your support!