Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am raising money for Crohn's and Colitis UK by running the 2013 Robin Hood Half Marathon.  I will be running with Kirsty Weatherall.

Colitis and Crohn's are inflammatory bowel diseases which last a lifetime.  Around 240,000 people across the UK have these conditions. Symptoms include relentless diarrhoea, bleeding, severe pain and exhaustion. Unsurprisingly, the conditions can have a devastating impact on work, social and family life.

This charity is important to me because Colitis has affected my sisters and Crohn's has affected my friend Anita and John, a work colleague.

I have seen, first hand, the impact that Colitis has.  My eldest sister, Sharon, was in and out of hospital for many years and eventually had to have her bowel removed.  My other sister, Emma, has also been affected and spent most of her twenties either in hospital or on steroids and now has to take maintenance drugs to help her to stop relapsing.  These drugs have side affects but unfortunately she has no choice but to take them.  They have both been really brave.

I would like to raise money for research into Crohn's and Colitis as there is no known cure and if Emma has another relapse, it is likely that she will also lose her bowel.

As well as funding research, your money will provide practical support through helplines, information, local community groups and a personal grant scheme.  It will also help to raise awareness of the needs and difficulties of people affected by these conditions and campaign for better healthcare.

Please give what you can.