Hospital History

Since 1835, St Mark’s Hospital has improved the survival and health-related quality of life of people with complex and rare bowel diseases. Over 50,000 patients are cared for at St Mark’s and, as a tertiary referral centre, 60% of our patients are referred from other UK hospitals to receive specialist care. Our clinical teams are experts when it comes to anything related to gastrointestinal diseases; in 2022, St Mark’s was recognised by Newsweek Magazine as one of the world’s leading specialist hospitals for gastroenterology.

My Mum's Story

My Mum Beverley has been under the care of St Mark's Hospital for 30 years and has been suffering with complex Crohn's disease (which is a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD) and, more recently, intestinal failure. St Mark's Hospital has saved my Mum's life countless times over the last three decades, including 11 major abdominal surgeries. From treating sepsis to strictureplasty and bowel resections, the amazing staff and research that is conducted at St Marks is truly second to none. In March 2017, Mum had a central venous catheter inserted, which allows her to receive the nutrition she needs to stay out of hospital as much as possible and on two occasions had major procedures to remove blood clots from her jugular which were also carried out by the team at St Marks.

Over the years I have watched my Mum's health go up and down, including the moments when I really thought we would lose her. If it hadn't have been for her Consultant Gastroenterologist Dr Gabe (who has been treating her for 24 years) and everybody else at St Mark's, I can honestly say she wouldn't be here today.

All of this is what has led me to the decision to run the Brighton Marathon in April 2025, to raise funds for a hospital that rely on donations made by the public in order to save lives every day. Your donation may help to improve research into new treatments for IBD, and will help to care for the thousands of people that suffer with the condition on a daily basis. Your donation will help to save a life, maybe even my Mum's in the future.