Through my love of running, every once in a while I like to raise money for a charity close to my heart. This year I am honoured to be able to raise money again for NASS.

I live with Ankylosing Spondylitis (Axial spa). I initially knew something was wrong with me after my first marathon (London) which I ran in 2002. Although grouped in the arthritis family, unlike rheumatoid arthritis you don’t get the swelling in the hand joints. This type of arthritis fuses your joints together.

Although many people with this have symptoms far less severe, in my case it decided to do its worst. I have a fully fused spine and neck and is moving into other joints. As such I have the archetypical “hunch” in my spine. To help manage this disease it requires two forms of treatment: 1) to carry on exercising and 2) take regular injections to suppress your immune system.

This brings its own unique issues which I found in March 2020 when I ended up shielding from Covid for two years. During this time, running became my saviour, my comfort for the only thing I could get to do during this period.

For those who suffer with Axial sPa to the extent as I have, it is an extremely painful and debilitating disease. My spine is completely fused and is actually crushing down on itself (I have lost about 4 inches in height) I have bad sciatica and scoliosis yet, despite all of this I am a runner.

I choose to run regardless of all of this, running is my lifeline, it makes me feel “normal” and despite what all the medical profession have said, I successfully completed my promised 3rd marathon 21 years after my first.

I realise I am the oddest looking runner around and many people are firstly surprised by my appearance, but also seeing me shoot off on a race. I have personally made the choice (like with so much in my life being “conscious decisions”) to be seen firstly (and primarily) as a runner and NOT someone who is disabled or living with a disability. So, when the time came to choose between taking it easy or finding another challenge the choice was simple 🙂