I am delighted to be raising money for Bowel Research UK by running the 2026 Adidas Manchester Marathon. It is a charity of importance to me, having lived with ulcerative colitis (UC) since the age of 16.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) affect over 500,000 people in the UK. Most cases are diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 35.

Whilst IBDs are often referred to as ‘silent’ illnesses, serious cases can lead to invasive surgery and treatment. Living with an IBD can be very challenging indeed. Public awareness and understanding is very important to those of us who navigate life with an IBD.

Bowel Research UK relies on fundraising for the purposes of clinical trials, education, and support for IBD sufferers.

I am therefore delighted to be supporting Bowel Research UK by running the Manchester Marathon on 19 April 2026. Any donations will be much appreciated.

As for the run…. This will be my first marathon and I am working towards an ambitious target time with the excellent Steve Abbott Performance Coach. So, watch this space!

Note: The statistics stated above appear on the Bowel Research UK website, where they are fully referenced.