So this September I am running the Great North Run half marathon and as I’m running on behalf of a charity I would really appreciate if you could spare a few quid to sponsor me. The charity is Crohns and Colitis UK and for the first time I’d like to publicly share my story to explain why. Ok maybe not “like”, but it’s important.

As a youngster, like many I didn’t look after my body. I was active but I smoked, binge drank at weekends and my diet was nutritionally rubbish.

When I first became unwell in 2009, I had no idea what was causing it. Cramps, pain, blood in my stool, weight loss, never out the loo - the doctor diagnosed me with IBS. But the biggest thing was the exhaustion of being in pain all the time. Total lethargy. I still played football but even during training and warm ups on match day I’d be knackered and was worried it was a lack of fitness, so I would push myself harder. Like too many young people, while I was confused, I ignored it for far too long.

Eventually after seeing a locum gp and telling her I’d been to the toilet 12 times in 24 hours she queried why no one had ever taken a stool sample and sent me straight to hospital for a colonoscopy where I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis and admitted to hospital. Things happened quickly after that. I weighed 7 stone and was seriously ill.

Initially they tried to control it with IV steroids but when they switched to tablet form my body rejected it and the inflammation spiked which sent me downhill again. I was transferred to the Western General on the Monday and by the Thursday I’d had an operation to remove the majority of my colon which meant I had to be fitted with a stoma. I was 32 years old.

I can’t really explain how badly it affected me mentally. I felt ashamed and embarrassed, felt constantly dirty and unclean. Young (especially) men don’t really talk about that kind of thing. I still think to this day there’s a stigma around something as personal as your bodily functions. For me even simple things like taking a bath, going for a swim was impossible. I felt robbed of a normal life, unable to do all the things I loved most. I went to football training but I was always on edge, worried about leaks and self conscious that people would notice.

A year after my initial op I was able to have a reversal which meant a pouch was created inside my abdomen so gone was the dreaded bag. But I had lost confidence in my body, it made me doubt my ability to do things physically and mentally I was on self destruct, trying to come to terms with how my life had changed and prove to myself I was the person I had been before. It was a really dark time.

Only now, over a decade later do I feel like I’m past the worst of it. Since meeting my vegetarian wife who taught me a lot about nutrition and pushing myself physically my self-esteem is so much better. Football, running, high intensity interval training, Munro climbing - I’ve finally rediscovered how much I love being active and I’m slowly becoming proud of what my body can do again.

Sharing this is terrifying. For years after I pretended (even to myself) that it never happened. But I’ve realised that to be able to truly consider myself recovered, I want to be open and hopefully raise awareness as it can happen at any age.

So never ignore symptoms (this is my biggest regret), be aware that stopping smoking suddenly can be a catalyst for dietary changes that can cause digestive issues, and know that there is so much help available around nutrition and mental health support. While I’m Incredibly grateful to the NHS and charities like the one I’m running for, I know I didn’t use the support enough because I was embarrassed. Lean on the people who love you - talk to them about it and don’t suffer in silence. I consider myself one of the lucky ones to be able to live a relatively normal life these days - after joining support groups online, I know that for many less fortunate people that will never be the case.

So I’m challenging myself with the Great North Run which means so much to me. Not only is it in the city I love most, but I want to prove to myself that I’m not defined by Ulcerative Colitis and also hopefully raise some money for a very worthy cause. Anything you could spare would be very much appreciated.