Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. For those that don't know my story, my battle with Ulcerative Colitis (UC), a form of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) started many years ago. At the time I had been training for the Cardiff half marathon, but never got to run it due to the decline in my health. It therefore seems only right that now I am conquering this illness that I get back in training and finish what I started.

I was diagnosed in February 2010, having been ill for many months and since then have been on a roller coaster of hospital appointments, tests and medications. I have had more hospital admissions than I care to remember, have had periods where I have been too ill to leave the house (or the bathroom) and have had to take medications that have had a major impact on my body/health. I kept hoping that the next treatment would give me the remission I wanted, but it would only be short lived. Due to the illness I underwent emergency life saving/changing surgery in November 2015, where my colon was removed and I now have an ileostomy. I had a lot of post operative complications and it has taken a while for me to accept that I now live with what I call my own 'bag for life'.

I'm not sure if I am crazy, stupid, brave or all of the above, but 7 years after I last did any running, I am attempting to run the Swansea half marathon. I have never run further than 10k and I am now starting completely from scratch - I currently can't even run a mile.

I couldn't have got through the last few years without the support of my family and friends, and I hope you will all support me in my latest challenge. Any donations gratefully received and rest assured not only will it help support an amazing charity it will help spur me on in my personal challenge and enable me to stick 2 fingers up to this disease.

CCUK is leading the battle against Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and other forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. It is raising awareness of the illness (through their campaigning, IBD was recently discussed in the house of commons), whilst trying to improve the care and services available for those of us living with the disease. It is funding and leading research into the causes and impact of IBD, whilst ultimately trying to find a cure. CCUK also provides support to those living with IBD, their friends and family.

To read more about UC and CCUK please click here;

http://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.