After a lengthy, frustrating period of misdiagnosis, I  was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus some 4 years ago. Lupus is an autoimmune illness in which the immune sytem is overactive hence instead of protecting the body, it turns on it, attacking at will. No organ or system is safe. The disease turned my life upside down. It robbed me of my sport, my fitness, my job, my home. The doctors made the difficult decision of retiring me from teaching 9 months ago. Along the way, the disease smashed my lungs, kidneys, brain, muscles & joints. Basic daily tasks I took for granted became too much, the future looked bleaked. But, with expert medical care & massive support from family & friends, I dug deep & refused to be beaten. In October 2011 my lupus was declared stable. I was advised I needed 3 months remission before I could return to work. In my opinion, teaching is the best job in the world & I am so chuffed to be back at Passmores Academy doing what I love. In September 2012 I will be cycling from Alderhey Hospital in Liverpool (frontrunner in Child Lupus) to St Thomas Hospital in London (World Research Centre for Lupus) rowing from 21 miles from the Isle of Dogs to Twickenham in the Great River Race & running 2 marathons back to school in Harlow. I will helped along the way by a team of sports stars, friends, colleagues & students. The Passmores Team will complete this massive challenge in 5 days. Our goal is to fund at least one Research Nurse post & specific projects within the two aforementioned hospitals. Over the next few months leading up to the Challenge, the Team will be undertaking various individual events to help boost our massive six figure target. May 13th sees Steve, Dan, Nick, Chris, Danny & I take part in Tough Mudder UK, a gruelling 12 mile obstacle course designed by British Special Forces. Team Mudder Teresa (genius, I know) need your help with fundraising. Any donation you can make, no matter how small, will be gratefully received. For your personal amusement we will be completing this physical test all dressed as Mother Teresa, our costumes lovingly designed by a student in school. There presently is no cure for this devastating illness. With your help, we want to help raise both awareness & funds to change this. All this will be done in under a year of remission. Help me be all I can be. Help us make a difference. Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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