After many years of unsuccessful attempted treatment for unexplained, diverse, escalating and undiagnosed medical conditions, my wife Jo was recently, by chance,  diagnosed as having "Mast Cell Instability".

By finally having this diagnosis we discovered the existence of the disease MCAS,  which unfortunately is an incurable condition with multiple symptoms affecting the auto immune system. It is also a condition currently not recognised by the NHS, which results in individual symptom treatment that often exacerbates other symptoms.

Life with MCAS can be a massively restricting experience where medication, exercise, what you inhale, what you eat, temperature changes and stress amongst other things, generate excessive amounts of mediators such as histamine and other compounds. It is an invisible condition that leaves many housebound and suffering without any comprehension of the exact cause. Unfortunately even the prescribing of antihistamine medication for the presented symptoms can itself lead to increased symptoms as they generally contain non active ingredients, which a sufferers immune system can interpret as an allergen.

I am running to support Mast Cell Action in their efforts to raise funds, awareness and gain medical recognition for this debilitating disease.

Mast Cell Action was established in 2016 to support patients likely to suffer from a newly recognised condition called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). Most patients and their families, including many newly born babies, spend years going in circles looking for help. The charity provides support to suspected MCAS patients and works to raise awareness of this condition amongst doctors and lobby for NHS recognition.