WHY?

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is here to support all those living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) to allow them to live their lives to the full and I am going to be running 30 races in the next 12 months to raise money to support this charity.

Like most people my age I assumed that Arthritis was some distant worry that myself and my friends may some day be diagnosed with when we were older. However in the last year one of the best people I know was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and I quickly learnt that Arthritis comes in many forms and can affect people of all ages.

Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA is an autoimmune disease and not the same as wear and tear arthritis.It is a progressive chronic disease of which there is no known cure presently. 

Having two super inspirational ladies in my life that have RA  (Mel and Becky I'm looking at you)  I have seen first hand how much it can affect and change your life...  chronic tiredness, pain, swelling and medication galore! It can make life a bit more of a battle at times when faced with a flare up  or what most of us would just consider a minor illness. But these two keep on smiling, keep on sweating, keep on being a constant inspiration to me (RA or no RA this statement would still stand FYI)

I know that the NRAS has been a support to both of them and many more people when they have needed advise, support or just someone to moan to that understands!! And I want to raise money for them so they can continue and expand what they do... while also raising a bit of awareness for them along the way.

 Visit their website at www.nras.org.ukNRAS is changing minds, changing services, changing lives for people with RA and JIA

WHEN AND HOW?

I am pledging to find 30 different races/ events to enter across the UK (and possibly even internationally) over the next 12 months. I have done my maths and this is working out at a average of 2.5 races per month. (Sometimes multiple races in the same weekend)... 

It's going to be one mighty challenge but I'm ready for it.

The first race is scheduled to be the Holmfirth 10K on the 31st October.

Swiftly followed by the Friston Adder (10 Miles) the weekend after.