Hi Guys!

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

On Saturday 22nd May 2021 I take on potentially the biggest  challenge of my life to date with the Jurassic Coast 'Ultra Challenge' & in doing so I am raising money for Crohns & Colitis UK who as many of you know is a charity close to my heart (& bowel!)

If anyone would have mentioned this would be in my future just over a year ago I would really would have laughed ... & frankly I would have expected you to laugh along with me. In January 2020 I started off with relatively nothing fitness & stamina wise & its slowly progressed (... up & down) since then through a simple love of being outdoors.

My Background

After suffering with symptoms on & off for a few years I got diagnosed with Crohn's disease at the age of nineteen. The first few years after diagnosis consisted of trial & error with medication, with a long period of time on steroids, however a relatively normal life.

Life got a little interesting in 2009 & my health spiralled quickly with no warning. I spent a lot of time in & out of hospital at home in Jersey having multiple bowel surgeries in order to get things under control - Then later my care moved over to Professor Sue Clark & her team at St Marks Hospital in Harrow, London. Among other things there, I underwent a right hemicolectomy resection, multiple organ fistula & a bladder repair & in the end at the age of 24 I finally woke up from one particularly awful eight hour surgery with an Ileostomy stoma, who affectionately nicknamed & became 'Colin'. 

Although I always knew it was a real possibility, I never truly thought it it would happen to me - I have always been really great at burying my head in the sand! Waking up with Colin was a huge shock to my system; physically, mentally & emotionally. I had no idea what to do with myself that I hit rock bottom & was totally overwhelmed. It was at this point that I started to tap into the amazing work that Crohns & Colitis UK (formally the NACC) do & it was their support, guidance & expertise which slowly started to open me back up to continue in my fight. They helped turn the trauma & shock into a positive & supported me from my very first London stay right through my successful ileostomy reversal years later & beyond.

The Crohns & Colitis UK community played a pivotal part in not only educating me on what I faced day to day with a stoma but also prepared me to get back on my feet & deal with the situation I found myself in. They gave practical help with transport home to Jersey, guided me with tackling tricky conversations with friends/my partner, going back into my employment, finding & tapping into my local IBD specialists, whilst alongside that leading the drive & funding fantastic research programmes to improve treatments & health services for IBD sufferers, with the ultimate aim to find a cure. 

I will imminently be undergoing more repair surgery in London to sort out a few niggly issues & its nice to know that support is there in the form of C&C UK should it be needed.

Realistically I know overall that my surgical remission wont last forever & at some point in the future I will likely find myself with the trusty return of my companion Colin. Until then I will make use of my health & tackle the most absurd challenges possible because that's what makes my life interesting. Ileostomy changes nothing in reality.

The Challenge

I am really thankful for the support that the charity gave me & have always wanted to be well & fit enough to take on something memorable for them to raise funds as a thank you for all their support over the years. Subsequently, I take on the 58km Jurassic Coast Ultra Challenge on 22nd May 2021. The route runs from Corfe Castle in Weymouth along the apparently very unforgiving & undulating coastline & finishing at Lodmoor Country Park. Cheesy but true when I say that I am here today due to the work of Sue Clark, St Marks Hospital & the Charity. Our run team would really appreciate any sponsorship that people can spare & even a few pounds can make a difference. All funds go straight to Crohns & Colitis UK & therefore directly into use for their much needed services across the UK & research. 

N x