I was diagnosed (really unexpectedly!) with inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis) back in 2016, just before my final year of uni. The diagnosis was a huge shock, and I hadn't even heard of ulcerative colitis. I was really unwell, very confused, very scared, and it was all just overwhelming.

Crohns and Colitis UK were fantastic: they talked me and my family through what UC is, medication options, dietary changes etc - in a way we could understand. They also helped me to emotionally deal with the diagnosis of a life long disease aged 21.

My identical twin sis Kyra has since been diagnosed with IBD too, so it's something we both face together.

I'm lucky enough to have found remission for now, and so I'm fundraising to give back to the charity. I'm running in the hope that we will one day find a cure - and for the phenomenal friends and family I know that also deal with IBD.