In 2014, I set myself the personal challenge of completing a marathon; in 2015, I had hoped to complete my second.  Unfortunately, 99 days before the marathon. I fell during training and broke both my ankle and leg resulting in reconstructive surgery and the end of this year's marathon dream.   i am praying that I will recover sufficiently to run again, so here's my fundraising page for next year.  Thank you for taking the time to visit my fundraising page and to read my story.

So why Arthritis Care? My father has suffered with rheumatoid arthritis since before I was born, and his father before him. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which means that the body's immune system, a system which usually fights infection, attacks the body's cells instead.

The effects of rheumatoid arthritis can be crippling, not to mention deforming. My father, a man who once required great dexterity in his hands for his career, now has hands so malformed that he often struggles with the simplest of tasks. He has had two successful knee replacements, countless steroid/cortisone injections and daily morphine for the management of his pain.

Many people, myself included until recently, are not aware of the possible complications of rheumatoid arthritis, some of which are life threatening. These complications include inflammation of other areas of the body (such as the lungs, heart and eyes), and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes all of which my father has suffered in recent years. Rheumatoid arthritis can run in families and last year, my rheumatoid factor came back positive.

When I run the VLM,, I would like to honour my father, a man who I am blessed to call mine.

'Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter; dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty, beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; no less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor; as much as child e'er loved, or father found; a love that makes breath poor, and speech unable; beyond all manner of so much I love you.' Act 1 Scene 1 King Lear - William Shakespeare

If you are based in the UK, you can make a donation with just a quick and free text.  Just text to my unique code PKAD66 and the amount to 70070. Within 24 hours you'll receive confirmation by text letting you know the donation has been successful. You can only donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10 by text, for any other amount you'll need to give online.  For example, if you wanted to give £5, you'd need to text 'PKAD £5',  to the number 70070.

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