Hello!!

To those who may not know me, I’m Brodie, I’m 21 and I will be running the London marathon for Lupus UK. I am extremely excited for this challenge but also very nervous as to how my little legs are going to run 26.2 miles.

I am running for Lupus UK in memory of my Auntie Suze. My auntie unexpectedly passed away 5 years ago after a lifelong battle with Lupus. When she was diagnosed as a teenager, she was told that she would not live into her 20s yet thanks to continuous research and the advance in available treatments and trials funded by charities like Lupus UK she lived to the age of 39 and has a beautiful daughter. The life that she lived would never have been possible without charities such as Lupus UK.

WHAT IS LUPUS?

Lupus is an uncommon, complex, and poorly understood disease. It is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system is dysfunctional and mistakenly identifies the body’s own tissues as foreign invaders. In people with lupus, the immune system creates autoantibodies to attack the body’s tissues. These form immune complexes which cause inflammation and damage – possibly affecting the organs and/or the joints in some lupus patients. Lupus disproportionately affects females and people from Black African, Caribbean, and Asian ancestries.

Many healthcare professionals, including General Practitioners, may not recognise the early signs resulting in a delay to referral and diagnosis. During this time, active lupus can cause damage to the kidneys, skin, heart, lungs and/or brain which may be irreversible.

Key symptoms of lupus:

- Joint and muscle aches and pains

- Extreme fatigue

- Rashes

- Anaemia

- Light sensitivity

- Headaches and migraines

- Hair loss

- Oral and nasal ulcers

- Brain fog

- Depression and anxiety

(taken from the Lupus UK website)

WHO ARE LUPUS UK?

Lupus UK are the national charity for all people affected by lupus in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The aims of the charity are to:

- Educate and support patients with lupus and their families and carers, as well as encouraging those with the disease to be involved in managing their illness

- Raise public awareness about lupus particularly within the medical profession

- Fund research into lupus, its causes, consequences, and treatments

- Grant funding for specialist lupus nurses within the NHS

I am aiming to raise as much money as possible for a charity very close to my family’s heart. As well as raise awareness of Lupus. Any donations are welcome and appreciated!

Thank you all for your support!

If you want to follow my training journey, you can follow me on Instagram @runwithbrodie :)