Ulcerative Colitis is a condition which has blighted our family for many years, with both Mum and Grandma suffering with the illness.

As many of you know, we had a pretty tough end to 2011, when the legend that is Mama Haigh was taken into hospital with another dehabilitating reoccurance of Ulcerative Collitis. Mum has suffered with this disease for 32 years, but in September 2011, the time had come to stop fighting and she was taken into surgery to have her entire large intestine removed.

After 5 weeks in hospital, Mum returned home and began the long road to recovery. She now has a stoma which is where the small intestine ends on the outside of her body and empties into a bag.

Now in February, Mum is doing a lot better. Every time I see her, she looks fitter and stronger, and she is hoping to return to work before Easter. She is looking forward to the year ahead, and is hoping that the mighty Halifax RLFC can get to Blackpool again in July! :) Mum will require another serious operation later on in the year, to fully remove her still diseased rectum and anus.

Crohn's and Colitis UK aims to improve life for everyone affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), the most common forms being Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Together these conditions affect about 250,000 people in the United Kingdom.

So what are we doing? Well, Mike, Papa Haigh and I are running the Manchester 10K in May (after Dad withdrew last year due to a "bad back") and the family bets are already on as to who will finish last (me or Dad!)!

Then in September, I will face my biggest challenge yet. I will be dragging my chunky, stumpy legs around the grueling 13.2 mile circuit of the Great North Run. If that thought alone isn't worth a couple of quid, I don't know what is!