Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I know there is a lot to read here, but please, use it as an excuse for a cuppa and a biscuit - it matters to me that people read what I have written below:

As many of you will know I have been ill for fourteen years.  There was no need for me to have been ill for fourteen years - I had several misdiagnoses.  My body deteriorated unnecessarily as a result.

In July 2011, I was given my first correct diagnosis: Coeliac Disease.  That was the start of me getting better!

Coeliac Disease IS NOT AN ALLERGY!!!  It is an autoimmune disease caused by intolerance to gluten.  When someone with coeliac disease eats gluten, their immune system reacts by damaging the lining of the small intestine.

I do not want anyone else to miss out on big chunks of their lives for no good reason!  I therefore, now I am well enough, want to raise money and awareness to try and prevent this from happening.

By sponsoring me you could ensure the swift diagnosis of Coeliac Disease.  1 in 100 people have it, but it is thought that only about 10-15% of them have been diagnosed.  The average time it takes for someone to be diagnosed is 13 years - I was lucky, it only took 10 1/2 years!

By sponsoring me you could stop someone from getting one of the three cancers related to Coeliac Disease by ensuring faster diagnosis and information about gluten free diets.

By sponsoring me you could stop someone from having fertility problems, again, by ensuring faster diagnosis and information about gluten free diets.

By sponsoring me you could stop people from getting Osteopenia (like I did) and numerous other conditions relating to Coeliac Disease, once more, by ensuring faster diagnosis and information about gluten free diets.

By sponsoring me you could help fund research for the genes relating to Coeliac Disease, better diagnosis for children, avoiding cross-contamination in commercial kitchens, etc.  Please visit: https://www.coeliac.org.uk/campaigns-and-research/current-research/ to find out more about the current research projects.

By sponsoring me you could make it easier for people with Coeliac Disease to access gluten free food, which is currently the only treatment.  There is no cure.

By sponsoring me you could support someone who has just been diagnosed.  Coeliac UK provide a range of tools to help people manage their diet and to provide support and information.

By sponsoring me you will feel wonderful and fabulous!  Promise!

If you would like more information, please visit: https://www.coeliac.org.uk/home/

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.  Just reading this has already helped and if you would like to make a donation, whatever the amount, that would be the icing on the gluten free cake!

£10 helps Coeliac UK produce a Food and Drink Directory for all members.  I regularly use this to discover new gluten free products and to find out when a recipe has changed and a product is no longer gluten free.

£1.50 helps Coeliac UK support a newly diagnosed person with an information pack.  £15 helps Coeliac UK support ten newly diagnosed with an information pack.  This was really useful, as it gave me lots of helpful tips, reassurance and access to free samples in the early days.

£20 helps Coeliac UK maintain their helpline.  I find this very helpful and no question is ever too silly!  Especially good when it comes to understanding confusing labelling on food packaging, for example when a product says it contains gluten, but that it is also gluten free!  (Anything that contains less that 20 parts per millions of gluten is classed as gluten free, but companies still have to say that it contains gluten!)

All donations will go towards raising awareness and supporting research projects.

Thank you!

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.