Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in 1996.  At that time I thought I was pretty healthy.  I did the Great North Run every year, swam, cycled and liked a few drinks when I had finished.  Over the next few years I became more and more poorly.  I lost weight and was in pain 24 hours a day. I developed abscesses, fistulas and other unpleasant things I had never previously heard of.  Not only could I not run, for weeks on end I couldn't even walk or leave the house.  At my lowest point I had surgery 12 times in 2 years, didn't sit down for nearly 18 months and felt more miserable than a politician in a popularity contest.

During that time my best source of information on my illness came from NACC.  When I couldn't get referred to a dietician, they sent me leaflets on food and Crohn's Disease.  When I was choosing whether to have more surgery, I could read their booklets on what the operations involved and what the risks were.  Inflammatory Bowel Disease is an isolating illness and reading the stories of other people in a similar position helped give me hope.

For the past five years I have been pretty healthy.  I have a stoma and permanently draining fistula and can do most things I want.  Last year I took a month off work and walked 500 miles across Spain to Santiago de Compostela with geet big backpack full of medical supplies.  It was the best thing I have done in my life.

This year I am running the Great North Run for NACC, to thank them for the help they gave me.  As you can see from the embarrassing photo I love running.  When you have had something taken away from you and then you get it back again, you appreciate it so much more. 

If you wanted to donate any money, no matter how small, I would be very grateful.  Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.  Thank you.  Rob.