On March 16th 2025 I will be running the Barcelona Marathon for Achalasia Action, a charity that is very close to my heart (and throat). Many of those who know me will know that I was diagnosed with Achalasia in early 2021. Achalasia Action exists to improve the understanding of achalasia and support those with the disease. I volunteer for the charity by hosting their Under 35 Meet Ups, allowing a space for those with the disease to discuss and advise each other.

Achalasia is a rare disease that affects roughly 1 in 100,000 people. As my working life deals with probabilities, I thought it was fitting to put this figure into perspective. The probability of someone being diagnosed with Achalasia is the same as guessing the last five digits of a stranger's telephone number. Being diagnosed with the disease also has a similar probability to rolling six on a dice six times in a row, then rolling an even number. Quite rare.

Speaking about the disease, it essentially makes it difficult for the muscles in the oesophagus to move food and liquids down to the stomach properly, as the muscles do not relax as they should. You can think of it like a 'normal' person's oesophagus being like a motorway, whilst for someone with Achalasia it is like a cycle lane in comparison. Due to this, there can be many difficulties. To name a few of these problems, it could be struggling to swallow solid and liquids, regurgitation, choking, weight loss, chest spasms, or some days simply not being able to eat at all.

Looking back, I recall originally thinking that I had a chicken bone stuck in my throat, however, that didn’t turn out to be the case. After more than 150 NHS appointments, I found out I had Achalasia, which my GP had never even heard of. Being relatively young at the time of my diagnosis, coming to terms with this was and still continues to be a challenging emotional and mental journey. Upon being diagnosed, I remember frantically emailing authors of research papers on the disease to understand if there were any pioneering treatments that were being trialed globally, to try and solve the issue. However, whilst achalasia can be managed with the right treatment, it cannot be cured, so I was glad to find support from others who also have the disease through Achalasia Action.

I'd like to thank everyone who has supported me along the way. Whether it be taking me to appointments, picking me up from appointments, visiting me in hospital, buying me a Nutribullet or splitting the bill fairly at the end of a meal. It doesn't go unseen.

Thank you for reading. Any support is massively appreciated by both Achalasia Action and myself.

Lewis