Diana Thomson
Diana's page
Fundraising for Crohn’s & Colitis UK
Story
In April 2020 I was due to run the London Marathon for Crohns and Colitis UK. Unfortunately in September 2019 I was diagnosed with breast cancer, so I had to defer until 2020 whilst I underwent treatment. Then just to add to this, Covid struck the UK and the marathon was rescheduled to be held virtually, in October 2020. Just two months after I finished my treatment for breast cancer I ran this Virtual London Marathon. It took every ounce of strength I had to finish. I had barely any training beforehand due to my treatment and shielding and also my hip went halfway through my run, meaning I spent a lot of time hobbling. But I managed my journey from Cairngorm to Grantown on Spey and rescheduled my London Marathon for October 2021.
Unfortunately due to Covid restrictions during this year I couldn’t host my main fundraising event … a boozy afternoon tea, so yet again, I ran the virtual London Marathon this year on October 3rd on the Deeside Way, Aberdeenshire.
So this year I will be running the London Marathon in London on the 2nd October 2022. Unfortunately I caught Covid a few weeks ago and this has had a real impact on my training but I’m still going to give it my best shot and raise funds for this very worthwhile cause.
So what is Crohns and what is Ulcerative Colitis? And why am I running the London Marathon?
They are both Inflammatory Bowel diseases (not to be confused with IBS - irritable bowel syndrome - this is something completely different). Colitis tends to be ulceration and inflammation in the colon and Crohns affects any part of the digestive system. Symptoms can include diarrhoea (often with blood), severe pain, swollen joints, extreme fatigue, dramatic weight loss, mouth ulcers and eye, skin and liver problems. Certain medications to try and control the disease can have scary side effects such as sensitivity to sunlight which gives a higher risk of skin cancer. Over 300000 people are affected in the uk with IBD. Crohns and Colitis are chronic conditions which have a huge impact on family life, education, work and everyday life. Its very unpredictable, lifelong and can be life threatening.There is no cure.
In 2019 my eldest daughter, Emily was diagnosed with chronic Crohns. She’d just turned 19 and was attending her first year at University. A time when she should be living life to the full. It was a big shock for me, her mum. I wanted to fix her but I couldn’t. Emily meanwhile, has taken it in her stride. I am so proud of her. She now takes medication to try and control the disease and has learnt to inject herself also - not bad for somebody with a needle phobia! The disease is extremely unpredictable and we’ve already had some scares along the way, but we take each day as it comes and are as positive as possible.
When Emily was first diagnosed I wanted to do as much as I could to help. So I turned to Crohns and Colitis Uk for help and support in trying to understand this disease. They have been amazing in supplying information and the online forums have been incredibly helpful also for answers to all of our questions.
So I wanted to give something back, something to help not only my daughter, but everyone else who is living with this awful disease. Currently I run 5-10ks and have ran four half marathons and two virtual London Marathons in the past. Hopefully I can raise as much money as I can for such a worthwhile cause. Crohns and Colitis UK have been wonderful through my cancer diagnosis too enabling me to defer my charity place until I’m ready.
The TCS London Marathon is the worlds biggest one-day fundraising event. Every penny raised from the TCS London Marathons will enable critical research, support and awareness about Crohn's and Colitis making a different to the thousands of people living with these lifelong conditions.
Thanks for reading and thank you for your donations and support. It’s much appreciated.
Diana xxx
Unfortunately due to Covid restrictions during this year I couldn’t host my main fundraising event … a boozy afternoon tea, so yet again, I ran the virtual London Marathon this year on October 3rd on the Deeside Way, Aberdeenshire.
So this year I will be running the London Marathon in London on the 2nd October 2022. Unfortunately I caught Covid a few weeks ago and this has had a real impact on my training but I’m still going to give it my best shot and raise funds for this very worthwhile cause.
So what is Crohns and what is Ulcerative Colitis? And why am I running the London Marathon?
They are both Inflammatory Bowel diseases (not to be confused with IBS - irritable bowel syndrome - this is something completely different). Colitis tends to be ulceration and inflammation in the colon and Crohns affects any part of the digestive system. Symptoms can include diarrhoea (often with blood), severe pain, swollen joints, extreme fatigue, dramatic weight loss, mouth ulcers and eye, skin and liver problems. Certain medications to try and control the disease can have scary side effects such as sensitivity to sunlight which gives a higher risk of skin cancer. Over 300000 people are affected in the uk with IBD. Crohns and Colitis are chronic conditions which have a huge impact on family life, education, work and everyday life. Its very unpredictable, lifelong and can be life threatening.There is no cure.
In 2019 my eldest daughter, Emily was diagnosed with chronic Crohns. She’d just turned 19 and was attending her first year at University. A time when she should be living life to the full. It was a big shock for me, her mum. I wanted to fix her but I couldn’t. Emily meanwhile, has taken it in her stride. I am so proud of her. She now takes medication to try and control the disease and has learnt to inject herself also - not bad for somebody with a needle phobia! The disease is extremely unpredictable and we’ve already had some scares along the way, but we take each day as it comes and are as positive as possible.
When Emily was first diagnosed I wanted to do as much as I could to help. So I turned to Crohns and Colitis Uk for help and support in trying to understand this disease. They have been amazing in supplying information and the online forums have been incredibly helpful also for answers to all of our questions.
So I wanted to give something back, something to help not only my daughter, but everyone else who is living with this awful disease. Currently I run 5-10ks and have ran four half marathons and two virtual London Marathons in the past. Hopefully I can raise as much money as I can for such a worthwhile cause. Crohns and Colitis UK have been wonderful through my cancer diagnosis too enabling me to defer my charity place until I’m ready.
The TCS London Marathon is the worlds biggest one-day fundraising event. Every penny raised from the TCS London Marathons will enable critical research, support and awareness about Crohn's and Colitis making a different to the thousands of people living with these lifelong conditions.
Thanks for reading and thank you for your donations and support. It’s much appreciated.
Diana xxx
