Steven Holness
Steve and Debs
Fundraising for Crohn’s & Colitis UK
Story
UPDATE!
Debbie is now sharing this page with me. She raised money for crohn’s and colitis last year but had to pull out of the race due to injury.
Instead of starting a new page for the same charity, we’re going to share this page. So welcome Debbie’s sponsors!!
Thank you for viewing my sponsorship page for the 2019 London Marathon
Many of you will have kindly sponsored me for the last couple of London Marathon, and thanks to you I’ve raised an amazing £12800 for Crohn's and Colitis UK.
I know I'm asking you to sponsor me again, but the fight goes on and funds are always needed. Plus the charity asked me if I’d do it one more time, and I couldn’t refuse! So please, anything, however small is appreciated.
Firstly, for those who don't know, a bit of information:
WHAT ARE CROHN'S and COLITIS?
Crohn’s Disease and Colitis are conditions that cause inflammation of the digestive system or gut. They are both chronic conditions. This means that they are ongoing and life-long, although there may be periods of good health (remission), as well as times when symptoms are more active (relapses or flare-ups).
Crohn’s is a very individual condition – the symptoms vary from person to person.
The symptoms range from mild to severe and can change over time, too. However, the most common are:
Abdominal pain and diarrhoea
Tiredness and fatigue
Feeling generally unwell or feverish
Mouth ulcers
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Anaemia (a reduced level of red blood cells)
There are various treatments, from many different medications to surgery if necessary.
WHY THIS CHARITY?
I was diagnosed with Colitis in my early 20's. I kept it mainly under control with various medication and treatments. If things got bad, occasional steroids seemed to do the trick.
My condition was re-diagnosed as Crohn's Disease in my early 30's.
However in the last 3-4 years things have got much worse for me.
I've been on various medicines and treatments but the symptoms are pretty constant. It's very difficult with my job. I've sadly got used to conducting shows in excrutiating agony, and running to the loo between filming takes!
However during the last year, I’ve started a new drug called Infliximab, or Remicade. Its administered intravenously every 6-8 weeks and is incredibly strong. It was actually reclassified from a chemotherapy drug.
Unfortunately it has many many side affects. It makes me very itchy, have very sore eyes and I get a lot of rashes.
There are numerous other side affects...extreme fatigue, dizziness, confusion, forgetfulness, mood swings to name a few...And it wipes away my immune system, and increases my chances of developing Cancer. But the risks are worth it as it’s helped me enormously, and started to keep my crohn’s under some sort of control..
The other drugs I take have numerous side effects, and it's a never ending battle to get the right balance that works for me. And many people are having the same battle, but we are able to because of charities like this who constantly fund research and support for sufferers.
As you can imagine this can make life quite tough....and especially it makes training tough. So why do I do it? I LOVE running. ....I'm not especially quick, athletic or fit....but I LOVE it. I've had bad experiences....using leaves for an emergency mid-run loo visit because the park toilets didn't have any loo paper! Running a half marathon with terrible, painful stomach cramps....but I LOVE running and I won't be beaten. It's actually my guts I worry about before any run....never the run itself, that's always secondary! But I LOVE it, and can think of no better way of putting my love of running to good use.... to run another London Marathon for this great charity.
Last year was my second marathon....I've done a lot of running since then including the New York Marathon in November 2018, and I now describe myself as a "runner"...but that doesn't mean it's easy...I know the training regime ahead, and it frankly fills me with a bit of misery!! But I'm someone who loves to push themselves, it's what drives me, and I think it's what a fulfilled life is all about. And I won't allow my medical condition to stop me doing this.
As you can see, for me it's not always easy....but nothing worthwhile is easy...and life is for living to the full. You’re a long time looking at the lid!!!
I really hope you can help me and countless others by kindly donating so we can win the battle.
Thank you xxx
Debbie is now sharing this page with me. She raised money for crohn’s and colitis last year but had to pull out of the race due to injury.
Instead of starting a new page for the same charity, we’re going to share this page. So welcome Debbie’s sponsors!!
Thank you for viewing my sponsorship page for the 2019 London Marathon
Many of you will have kindly sponsored me for the last couple of London Marathon, and thanks to you I’ve raised an amazing £12800 for Crohn's and Colitis UK.
I know I'm asking you to sponsor me again, but the fight goes on and funds are always needed. Plus the charity asked me if I’d do it one more time, and I couldn’t refuse! So please, anything, however small is appreciated.
Firstly, for those who don't know, a bit of information:
WHAT ARE CROHN'S and COLITIS?
Crohn’s Disease and Colitis are conditions that cause inflammation of the digestive system or gut. They are both chronic conditions. This means that they are ongoing and life-long, although there may be periods of good health (remission), as well as times when symptoms are more active (relapses or flare-ups).
Crohn’s is a very individual condition – the symptoms vary from person to person.
The symptoms range from mild to severe and can change over time, too. However, the most common are:
Abdominal pain and diarrhoea
Tiredness and fatigue
Feeling generally unwell or feverish
Mouth ulcers
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Anaemia (a reduced level of red blood cells)
There are various treatments, from many different medications to surgery if necessary.
WHY THIS CHARITY?
I was diagnosed with Colitis in my early 20's. I kept it mainly under control with various medication and treatments. If things got bad, occasional steroids seemed to do the trick.
My condition was re-diagnosed as Crohn's Disease in my early 30's.
However in the last 3-4 years things have got much worse for me.
I've been on various medicines and treatments but the symptoms are pretty constant. It's very difficult with my job. I've sadly got used to conducting shows in excrutiating agony, and running to the loo between filming takes!
However during the last year, I’ve started a new drug called Infliximab, or Remicade. Its administered intravenously every 6-8 weeks and is incredibly strong. It was actually reclassified from a chemotherapy drug.
Unfortunately it has many many side affects. It makes me very itchy, have very sore eyes and I get a lot of rashes.
There are numerous other side affects...extreme fatigue, dizziness, confusion, forgetfulness, mood swings to name a few...And it wipes away my immune system, and increases my chances of developing Cancer. But the risks are worth it as it’s helped me enormously, and started to keep my crohn’s under some sort of control..
The other drugs I take have numerous side effects, and it's a never ending battle to get the right balance that works for me. And many people are having the same battle, but we are able to because of charities like this who constantly fund research and support for sufferers.
As you can imagine this can make life quite tough....and especially it makes training tough. So why do I do it? I LOVE running. ....I'm not especially quick, athletic or fit....but I LOVE it. I've had bad experiences....using leaves for an emergency mid-run loo visit because the park toilets didn't have any loo paper! Running a half marathon with terrible, painful stomach cramps....but I LOVE running and I won't be beaten. It's actually my guts I worry about before any run....never the run itself, that's always secondary! But I LOVE it, and can think of no better way of putting my love of running to good use.... to run another London Marathon for this great charity.
Last year was my second marathon....I've done a lot of running since then including the New York Marathon in November 2018, and I now describe myself as a "runner"...but that doesn't mean it's easy...I know the training regime ahead, and it frankly fills me with a bit of misery!! But I'm someone who loves to push themselves, it's what drives me, and I think it's what a fulfilled life is all about. And I won't allow my medical condition to stop me doing this.
As you can see, for me it's not always easy....but nothing worthwhile is easy...and life is for living to the full. You’re a long time looking at the lid!!!
I really hope you can help me and countless others by kindly donating so we can win the battle.
Thank you xxx
