I've completed the Great North Run several times before, and I'm thrilled to run again for the Special Effect charity, but certainly a little daunted about it this year! In the past I'd normally count myself as a fairly fit and active person and running 21km wasn't an enormous stretch for me.
I have a chronic illness called Ulcerative Colitis, which since my diagnoses had remained relatively well-controlled. Sadly in 2020 during the pandemic my illness escalated so badly I was hospitalised and had an emergency operation to remove my colon. I spent nearly a month in hospital in total, about 2 days in ICU and several weeks in the recovery centre regaining the strength to walk, as the severity of my disease left me weighing about 6 stone, along with recovering from my open surgery.
Not long after my operation I began suffering with a continuous cough, due to the understandable demand on services it took 8 months to get an appointment at the chest clinic, where I was diagnosed with asthma.

I would love to show that asthma and having an ileostomy shouldn't stop someone completing a half marathon - it will require more work and care than it used to, but my aim this year is just to get across the finish line and raise as much money for charity as I can in the process!

Having spent some time in hospital and come out with a disability, I've been refreshing my memory on Special Effect's work. Their stories of people in intensive care, and those who are isolated due to being medically vulnerable, and how they are adapting technology and video games to help patients stay connected with friends, and pass the time in hospital or in recovery resonates with me strongly.

Finally, I want to shout out to Polly (who is also raising money for Special Effect) and Stevie (a Special Effect ambassador) for helping me so much during the worst times in and out of hospital.
I strongly encourage you to read the inspirational stories of people who Special Effect have helped, thank you for reading my page and any amount you can donate is hugely appreciated!