Hello,  If you know me then you will probably know that I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in June 2018.  RA is an autoimmune disease and unfortunately my body is having a good go at attacking all my joints instead of actually fighting off infections because my body is a total muppet!  

Rheumatoid Arthritis is pretty grim.  It hurts......a lot.  Sometimes I wake up and I cant do the most basic of things as my hands are in so much pain.  Its not just the odd pain in a thumb joint that old people get.  Unfortunately people of all ages have to live with this incurable disease and for some people it can be extremely serious.  I have had various treatments from mild chemotherapy drugs to a new course of medication I am currently on as part of a medical research study with Newcastle University.  It has been a really tough year and I have tried my best to be really positive throughout and share my experience with others to show that you don't have to limit yourself when you are diagnosed with RA.  Please take some time to learn more about the condition and if you know anyone else living with RA, please give them some support and ask how they are doing.

This year I completed the Manchester Marathon in April to prove to myself that I can still get off my arse and do something half decent.  I struggled throughout training however I knuckled down and got the job done and this personal achievement has really helped me keep plugging away.  I didn't raise money for this as I was really unsure I could actually do it.

Anyway, less of the sob story.  I want to give something back to an amazing charity called ''Versus Arthritis'' who help people like me.  They are a great charity who do so much to support people with various types of arthritis including RA.   I would go on about the charity but you all have google so just visit the website.

Any donation would be greatly appreciated.