In September, I will be running the Great North Run again, this time with my friend Lucy and my newly acquired catheter. Usually, my training consists of carb loading, maybe one training run and not a lot else. However, this year will be my first time running with a suprapubic catheter, so I will actually have to train and learn how to run with a slightly different body. I'm under no illusions that it is going to be easy this year, but I'm looking forward to the challenge and running with Lucy (who has helped me so much over the past few years) to hopefully show other people that having a catheter doesn't have to stop you from doing the things you enjoy.

Raising money and awareness of urology conditions, particularly in younger people, is really important to Lucy and I, and we want to show others that, whilst life can be challenging, you can still live positively with catheters and bladder conditions. I don't hide my catheter and I also want to show other young people that having a medical device of any kind is nothing to be ashamed of, particularly given my job as a teacher.

We've both faced many challenges over the years and whilst I will never forget some of the experiences that I've had, particularly as a child, the work of The Urology Foundation and other charities is helping to raise awareness of bladder conditions. I hope that this means other young people who are just starting on their urology journey will be able to have a more positive experience of getting a diagnosis.

If I manage this in one piece, it is all credit to the medical professionals who have got me to this point.

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