I'm taking part in Decembeard to support Bowel Cancer UK. All the money raised will help stop people dying of bowel cancer by funding vital services and lifesaving research. Thank you for your support.

The three reasons that made me want to support Bowel Cancer UK are:

Diverticular disease

I have been very lucky with my health but in 2017 I became very ill and was rushed to the doctors with severe pains in my lower abdomen. Stupidly self diagnosing online and remembering my childhood hero Bobby Moore died at 51 years old from Bowel Cancer I became very worried.

After a series of tests (some rather unpleasant) to my relief bowel cancer was ruled out, IBD (Chron's Disease) then IBS and finally a diagnosis of Diverticular Disease was given. I had suffered a lot of pain and discomfort, spent a month on a liquid diet and lost over a stone in weight but was so grateful it was not bowel cancer.

I have since learned how to live with my condition and manage attacks when they come. This experience made me acutely aware of the massive impact a lessor illness can have on mine and my families life.

In February of this year my Diverticular Disease came back unexpectedly and ruptured my bowel. If it were not for some amazing paramedics I would have died in front of my family.

In hospital I was too unstable to operate and developed severe sepsis and came close to death a second time.

After 8 hours of surgery and nearly 7 weeks in hospital I was saved by our incredible NHS and came out with a colonoscopy.

GRAPHIC IMAGE WARNING:

If you view the image gallery the second image shows me post op

In October I had another 11 hours of surgery to reconnect part of my large intestine and swapped the colonoscopy for an ileostomy.

I hope to have a third surgery in the new year to reconnect my small intestine.

NHS Funding

Around the same time I received my diagnosis we started working with an NHS funded organisation that specialises in supporting clinicians, industry and patients with Bowel Cancer.

This year their funding was stopped and they will now close down. I do not believe that charities should fund the day to day running of our health services but I also do not want people to suffer because of the shortfall.

Until we have a government that is will to fund the NHS as it should be then we have no choice but to raise money for research and support ourselves.

An inspirational young lady

During my diagnosis I was watching the progress of a young lady who I follow online. Her diagnosis was the one I feared the most.

During her treatment her positivity was truly amazing and got me through the worst of times. So much so she inspired me to raise money that year.

One day she posted:

was truly heartbroken, Amy was half my age and really deserved more.

If you want to know more about Amy Mattingly click here:

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/how-we-can-help/real-life-stories/younger-people-with-bowel-cancer/amy-mattingly,-32-from-the-cotswolds/

Please support me

I raised money growing a beard for Decembeard in 2018 and 2019 for Bowel Cancer UK.

If you wish to do the same sign up at:

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/support-us/fundraise/decembeard/