Story
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On the 26th September 2021 we will be running the Robin Hood half marathon in aid of Crohn's and Colitis UK.
This is a charity very dear to our hearts as Beccy was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2017.
For those that do not know, Crohn's disease is a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and it is a chronic illness with no cure. This means that it is ongoing and life-long, although you may have periods of good health (remission) as well as times when symptoms are more active (relapses or flare-ups). Crohn's disease is often misdiagnosed and untreated in many people. It is estimated that Crohn's Disease affects about one in every 650 people in the UK.
Beccy's story
I haven't spoken up about my illness publicly before but it has had a huge impact on my life in the last 4 years and also the many years before following many misdiagnosis'.
In 2017 the pain I was in became so unbearable that I collapsed and was hospitalised. Looking back now this is the best thing that could have happened to me as I was able to have my illness diagnosed and was able to start getting my life back on track. I had many tests and scans and was put on a course of steroids and many painkillers. Following a colonoscopy I was officially diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. My illness had become quite severe at the time of diagnosis and so I had to start taking immunosuppressant medication straight away by having injections every other week. This treatment has helped to keep my symptoms in remission as much as possible. I still have flare ups and suffer with chronic fatigue but overall I live a relatively normal life which I am grateful for.
Unfortunately for many with IBD, most of the treatments/medications do not work which results in more drastic measures to help control the illness. Roughly 1 in 4 people that suffer with Crohn's disease or Ulcerative Colitis end up having surgery to remove infected areas of their bowel. This surgery is life changing and can result in people being left with Stomas.
Crohn’s and Colitis UK are a great charity who provide support and offer lots of advice to those living with IBD. As there is no cure for IBD, Crohn's and Colitis UK are doing all they can to fund research into finding a cure, helping to find easier ways to diagnose IBD and also researching more suitable treatments for people to take. (If you wish to know more about this charity or further information about IBD then please keep scrolling below).
I have been very fortunate to have lots of support from family, friends and Crohn's and Colitis UK.
Any donations will be greatly appreciated to help try and make this illness no longer a chronic illness!
P.S. as many of you may know... I am prone to fainting quite regularly so there should be no expectations of me finishing within a quick time :')