I am running the 2024 Edinburgh Half Marathon for Jordan’s Addison’s Disease Awareness in order to raise as much money as possible.

In 2017, I was diagnosed with Addison's disease, a rare illness of the adrenal glands which affects around 9000 people in the UK. My symptoms at the time were extreme fatigue, rapid weight loss (as you can see from the photo below) and fainting. If it wasn’t for my GP realising the urgency of my situation from blood results, I may not have been where I am today.

Since then, I have been lucky enough to live a happy and active life taking my medications and this is down to the support I’ve received from my family, friends and endocrinologist. I have travelled to many countries, lived abroad, gone through university, kept fit and done everything a ‘normal’ person can do. However, when I was first diagnosed it wasn’t easy and with Addisons being rare, I felt really nervous about what the future held. I wish I had had a charity like JADA back then, to give me the advice that I needed as a young 19 year old, newly diagnosed!

JADA was established in honour of Jordan Crombie, who sadly passed at 28 from complications related to the disease in 2022. Being 27, this really hits home and reminds me of the seriousness when it comes to the condition. JADA are a fantastic charity looking to raise awareness of the disease and offer assistance to individuals and their families. It is important that people know about this disease, the symptoms that come with it and if ever diagnosed, how to live a happy and prolonged life!

Thank you for your donations!