After 3 years, 35 nights in hospital, 3 operations, hundreds of blood tests, and over 100 appointments with 7 difference consultants, I was disagnosed with polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), a rare form of vasculitis (in the UK, the incidence of PAN is estimated to be roughly 5 per 1,000,000). A severe, oftern terminal and debilitating illness, vasculitis is an auto-immune disease that effects the blood supply to the body's major organs and nervous systems. Harsh treatment regimes, including chemotherapy, long term steroid usage, and other immune system suppressing drugs are used to put the illness into remission. They are not always successful either, and sadly some patients lose their lives.

In the UK, there is very little funding provided to research the causes of the illness ("unknown origin" is the common diagnosis) or provide support and information for patients or their families. Try googling "polyarteritis nodosa" for example!

I am walking all 31 miles of the Worcestershire Way on 29 June 2013 from Bewdley to Great Malvern to raise awareness and funds for the charity Vasculitis UK, who were established to provide support to patients and their families as well as supply whatever limited funds they can towards mdedical research projects aimed at diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

I'd like as many people as know me to sign up to take some part in the challenge of walking 31 miles in a day, to help raise funds and raise the profile of Vasculitis UK. The walk is set in a beautiful part of the English countryside, with panaoramic views over the 3 counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. Walkers will get a free T-shirt to walk in, sponsor forms, your own JustGiving page and a pin badge at the end of the day for completing the walk (compliments of Vasculitis UK and Worcestershire CC).

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.