Some of you know that I’ve been living with Crohn’s disease for years. But very few people see what everyday life with an invisible illness truly looks like.

There are days when I feel strong. And there are days when getting out of bed feels like climbing a summit. Crohn’s doesn’t ask about your plans. It doesn’t care about your calendar, flight tickets, or dreams. It can take your strength within an hour. It can turn someone who was smiling a moment ago into a person curled up on the ground in pain. I never know what tomorrow will bring. Sometimes I don’t even know what the next 30 minutes will bring. And that’s exactly why I keep going. Although there is still no cure, there is hope. There is science. There are people working every single day to make sure that one day there will be fewer people like me fighting this battle.

That’s why I support Crohn’s and Colitis UK and take part every year in their event, My WALK IT. This is not just “another charity event” for me. It’s personal. It’s my loud “I refuse” to a disease that tries to define my limits.

Last year, I stood on the three highest peaks of Africa — including the roof of the continent, Mount Kilimanjaro. Every step was a fight against altitude, exhaustion… and my own body. But when I reached the summit, I realised one thing — the disease may be part of me, but it is not me.

This year, I’m going even further. I’m flying to Peru to begin a solo journey through the Andes. Starting in the historic city of Cusco, I will take on the demanding Salkantay Trek — five intense days through high mountain passes, snow, glaciers, and humid jungle. This won’t be a holiday. It will be a test. A test of character. Of endurance. Of belief in myself. I will depend only on myself. On my experience. On my mindset. And on whether my “unwanted companion” allows me to keep moving. From the heights of Salkantay to the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, every single step will carry meaning.

I’m not doing this just for me. I’m doing it for every person who feels limited by illness. For those fighting silent battles. For those who sometimes doubt whether they are still allowed to dream. I want to prove that a diagnosis is not a life sentence. That chronic illness does not cancel big ambitions. That you can live bravely — even when your body doesn’t always cooperate. Because the truth is:

The biggest barriers aren’t on the trail. They are in our minds. If you truly want something, you can do it. You can push beyond your limits. You can be stronger than pain. You can be greater than fear.

If you would like to support this journey and help fight for a future without Crohn’s, please consider donating. Every contribution goes directly to Crohn’s and Colitis UK — funding research, supporting patients, and driving real change.

This is not just a trek.

This is not just a challenge.

It’s proof that even with illness, you can still stand on the summit.