Stuart Fearn
Raising Funds for Crohn's and Colitis UK - A charity that supported me.
Fundraising for Crohn’s & Colitis UK
Story
As many will know by now Stuart became seriously ill with Ulcerative Colitis which was diagnosed in late 2012.
Colitis is a little known disease of the large bowel where for reasons unknown, the immune system attacks the bowel lining causing ulceration, severe pain, eating difficulties, weight loss and overall sickness and ill health.
The illness can come and go, tends to flare up and subside at the most unexpected moments and needs to be treated with very high doses of steroids and other immune suppressing drugs.
Unfortunately Stuart suffered a significant and final flare up during late March 2013. After 20 days of continual treatment in hospital with high strength steroids and other Immune system suppressants on Intravenous drips it was clear that the condition had worsened to a significant degree. The only form of treatment left to me was urgent major surgery to remove my large bowel completely. Without this surgery Stuart would have had limited time to live and the end result was life saving.
Stuart underwent this operation plus 2 further operations to complete the full surgery over the next 12 months. Stuart’s weight had dropped to just over 10 stone from nearly 14 stone so recovery was always going to take some time. As a result of this illness he struggles with hydration and now also suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis and a secondary form of arthritis named Ankylosing Spondylitis so a few challenges ahead we think, but all can be taken on head on.
After Stuart initially raised funds for Crohn’s and Colitis he has since been supported by wife Kirsty. Together raising over two thousand, five hundred pounds over the last few years with Kirsty doing the lions share of this work through fund raising from running.
In September 2018 we both, supported by family members Matt and Tracey (Sister and Brother-in-law) intend to run the Great North Run. As a practice run... also the GNR 10k in July of this year. Stuart, not a runner, not yet anyway!
Did I mention, Stuart is also 50 next year so really knocking one off his own bucket list too!
Any support you could give to this charity would be greatly appreciated. We really would like to use this opportunity to raise awareness of this often hidden illness that in many cases creates severe disabilities. It now also means so much more to us to find the source of the illness, cures that work without surgery and help for those who suffer from it and support those who need to get well.
Thanks for taking the time to visit this JustGiving page.
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. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
It would be great if you could help me support this charity. You can donate from 1.00 pound and every little really does help.
Love and lots of thanks just for reading this.
Stu
Colitis is a little known disease of the large bowel where for reasons unknown, the immune system attacks the bowel lining causing ulceration, severe pain, eating difficulties, weight loss and overall sickness and ill health.
The illness can come and go, tends to flare up and subside at the most unexpected moments and needs to be treated with very high doses of steroids and other immune suppressing drugs.
Unfortunately Stuart suffered a significant and final flare up during late March 2013. After 20 days of continual treatment in hospital with high strength steroids and other Immune system suppressants on Intravenous drips it was clear that the condition had worsened to a significant degree. The only form of treatment left to me was urgent major surgery to remove my large bowel completely. Without this surgery Stuart would have had limited time to live and the end result was life saving.
Stuart underwent this operation plus 2 further operations to complete the full surgery over the next 12 months. Stuart’s weight had dropped to just over 10 stone from nearly 14 stone so recovery was always going to take some time. As a result of this illness he struggles with hydration and now also suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis and a secondary form of arthritis named Ankylosing Spondylitis so a few challenges ahead we think, but all can be taken on head on.
After Stuart initially raised funds for Crohn’s and Colitis he has since been supported by wife Kirsty. Together raising over two thousand, five hundred pounds over the last few years with Kirsty doing the lions share of this work through fund raising from running.
In September 2018 we both, supported by family members Matt and Tracey (Sister and Brother-in-law) intend to run the Great North Run. As a practice run... also the GNR 10k in July of this year. Stuart, not a runner, not yet anyway!
Did I mention, Stuart is also 50 next year so really knocking one off his own bucket list too!
Any support you could give to this charity would be greatly appreciated. We really would like to use this opportunity to raise awareness of this often hidden illness that in many cases creates severe disabilities. It now also means so much more to us to find the source of the illness, cures that work without surgery and help for those who suffer from it and support those who need to get well.
Thanks for taking the time to visit this JustGiving page.
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. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
It would be great if you could help me support this charity. You can donate from 1.00 pound and every little really does help.
Love and lots of thanks just for reading this.
Stu
