I am running the One Big Weekend Jog Scotland 5k alongside my fiance Brian, in memory of my late Mother, Rubina who passed away on the 25^th of July 2012. Unknowingly she had contracted Hepatitis C from a blood transfusion many decades ago and although she led a normal happy life and raised a family, this terrible disease eventually took its toll and took her away from us at the tender age of 57.

Many people with Hepatitis C have no symptoms and symptoms only become noticeable when you have very advanced liver damage, unfortunately this was the case with my Mum. This disease carries a lot of unfair stigma where people associate it with intravenous drug taking. However, this deadly disease can be contracted in many ways from sharing toothbrushes, piercings and tattoos using unsterile equipment, medical or dental treatment, unsterile razors in barbers shops, and blood transfusions. Blood was not screened before 1991 so many people who had blood transfusions have Hep C and don’t know. There is treatment available for Hep C similar to chemotherapy treatment, it is very harsh and it isn’t always successful. Currently there is no cure for Hepatitis C.

My Mum was a loving, charismatic and a truly unique woman. She truly was a beautiful woman, both inside and out. She had a heart of gold and really was one of a kind. She absolutely loved her family and cherished life. She was full of life, laugher and was the life and soul of the party. She was a true fashion diva, she loved her make-up and jewellery (especially big earrings) and that’s a passion we shared. She is sorely missed and has left a huge gap in our lives. I know that she will be proud of me and looking down watching me and giving me that extra strength to complete this race.

Any donations no matter how small are very much appreciated. They will go to a very worthy charity called the Hepatitis C Trust who are trying to raise awareness of this silent killer disease and help to fund research. Your donations will help to:

• Put pressure on the government to help push hepatitis C further up their agenda because the UK has lagged so far behind other countries in terms of patient care, diagnosis, destigmatisation, and raising awareness.
  
• It will improve information, services and education within the NHS.
  
• Fund research to provide better treatment or a cure for this killer disease.

Many thanks, Afshan and Brian xxx

http://www.nhs.uk/hepatitisc/southasian/living-with-it/Pages/shabanas-interview.aspx

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