What a crazy year it has been for my family and I! I was never one for doctor or hospital visits, as I was rarely ever unwell. However, that all changed in 2022.

I was admitted into hospital in early June 2022. I was immediately diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease was a complete shock. Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic illness where instead of the immune system helping protect the body, it attacks instead. Over 500,000 people are diagnosed with Chrons and Colitis, and far more experiencing symptoms but have no education on what to look out for.

After diagnosis, I never thought what was coming or that that’s where I’d be spending the rest of my summer, fighting for my life with everything I could give. it had come as a big shock and my whole world had flipped upside down.

The team at Victoria Hospital tried every possible pre operative option, where I was given every possible medication/ biologics to try and put my illness in a state of remission (some signs of the illness disappeared).

Unfortunately, because the Ulcerative Colitis was so advanced the only option was to have life saving surgery. This has been the biggest physical and mental challenge I have had to overcome.

After surgery and trying to get my life back to a “new normal,” I’ve found myself lost and without proper direction. Due to the lack of awareness and education, I have decided to help the cause.

I will be running the Edinburgh Marathon on the 28th May, to raise money and awareness for Crohns and Colitis UK. This is going to be a massive challenge as if you know me well, you know how much I hate running!

Chrons and colitis UK, are a charitable organisation who are raising the awareness of symptoms and life with chronic illness through various campaigns and funding new research on chronic illness , finding potential cures , or new disease management medications to help people with these conditions live life to the best quality they can.