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Anyone who knows me well will know I used to be extremely fit. Over the years I’ve went form being fit to a couch potato. I was sitting on the couch looking through peoples pics coming in from last years marathon and by the time I knew it I had an email saying I’d been accepted to run 2023 Marathon.

The reason I decided to run was to help support Lupus UK. A charity and illness very close to my family… 

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system is dysfunctional and mistakenly identifies the body’s own tissues as foreign invaders. It is a very complex disease which will bring on Sjögrens Syndrome,Raynaud’s phenomenon and antiphospholid syndrome to name a few.  Symptoms of the disease include joint pain, fatigue and hair loss and a facial rash in the shape of a butterfly.

In 1997 my mums whole world was turned upside down. She didn’t know what was wrong with her. She was in excruciating pain, exhausted, constantly tired, couldn’t get out of  her bed, could hardly walk and hair falling out? From being a reasonably fit person to having to rely on family for help.

Two years down the road and she was told she had overlap syndrome. A combination of Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. She had never heard of Lupus and even now people always ask what Lupus  is. It is an auto immune disease which means that one’s own immune system, which should protect us from germs and diseases, starts attacking healthy cells in our bodies. It basically means ‘self-destruct’ mode. There is four types of Lupus.The most common and life-threatening one is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), which targets various organ systems in the body including nerves, skin, blood, joints, heart, kidneys, lungs, liver, and brain.

Lupus is not curable, but it can be contained with the right medication.

When she was told she had SLE in 1999 she was scared and felt quite isolated. With Lupus people look at you and say you don’t look sick or what exactly is lupus? You have good days and bad days. Everyday becomes a challenge and you have to try and listen to your body, especially on bad days.

Because of the Lupus my mum suffers with all above I previously mentioned and it has brought on other troubles such as osteoporosis, Liver problems

What we need is more awareness of LUPUS, it’s symptoms and the effect’s it can have on peoples lives. It is an important opportunity to raise awareness of the disease amongst the public and medical profession as well as improving the understanding of the impact that lupus can have.

Lupus Uk is the only national registered charity supporting people with Lupus.  Because it isn’t a well publicised disease the charity needs all the help and support it can get.

Please help and support my efforts to raise as much money and awareness as possible. Please donate as little or as much as you can.

Also if you want a rite good laugh and see the reddest face in Edinburgh on May the 28th get down and lend your support along the route