Hello, I am attempting to run the Virgin London Marathon on April 13th 2014. I am running the marathon for an amazing cause, and all of your generous donations are valuable and will go to Crohn's Colitis UK.

I have chosen to fundraise for Crohn's Colitis UK, because it is a charity that is very close to my heart. Now I don't want this to sound like one of those terrible X-Factor auditions, but I do need to tell some form of sob story to arouse your emotions and extract as much money as I possibly can out of you!

In September 2011, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. 

Crohn's disease is a disease that currently has no cure, however with the help of doctors and medication and a sensible diet, it can be managed effectively. Some people can go years without having any reoccurence of the illness, but for others it can occur frequently. Such 'flare-ups' as they are called, can cause intense pain in your bowels and terrible weight loss. In September 2011 (bearing in mind I am 6'2"), I went from 11st 6lbs to 9st 4lbs, and looked like a skeleton. With the help of doctors and medication I was sent packing from the hospital after a 4 night stay and put on a special diet plan to attempt to re-gain my lost weight. In July 2012, I relapsed after taking an ibuprofen (an ibuprofen for godness sake), I was in hospital for 9 days until I was eventually released. I'm currently 12st+ and back on the mend (touch wood).This disease is genuinely terrible, it deserves more coverage and more support worldwide because with the help of others this disease can and will be cured. 

Donate generously please, it's worth it and I won't let you down.

Cheers,
Rob

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