5km for Crohn's and Colitis UK
Rachel Mason is an Artworker who has
been at our Tamworth branch for six years so far. On Saturday 6th
July she’ll be taking part in Walk It Birmingham for the charity Crohn's &
Colitis UK.
“My dad was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis
back in June 2018, shortly after his 60th birthday,” says Rachel. “Unfortunately,
it was a severe case of the disease, which meant that he was confined to the
house for many months.
“Being fit and healthy during his whole
life prior to this, it has been a worrying and very difficult journey. A
hospital admission last September for two weeks and then four infusions of a
biological drug, plus other forms of medication, all proved ineffective. The
only way my dad would get his life back was to have surgery to remove his
colon, have a stoma formed and wear an ileostomy bag.
“After
months of suffering and several operations being cancelled, my dad finally had
surgery in April this year. He is recovering very well and feeling much
stronger each week.”
Members of Rachel’s family will be
joining her for the 5km walk. This is the first fundraising event she’s organised
and is asking for donations no matter how small toward her fundraiser campaign:
“Every penny will be much appreciated and help towards crucial research into
the illness.”
Rachel, along with her dad, mum, her own
partner, her sister and her partner, are looking forward to Walk It, which begins
in City Centre Gardens and has its own event village that’s full of hustle and
bustle. The walk takes participants past some of the city’s most eye-catching
and well-known landmarks, as well as some hidden gems. To add to the upbeat
atmosphere, this year the event will be opened by Paralympic Powerlifter Ali
Jawad.
“This is a cause very close to my heart
since my dad's diagnosis last year. I would like to raise awareness of inflammatory
bowel disease and help others affected by Crohn's and Colitis. I do not feel it
gets enough publicity; in fact, many people have not heard of either of these
debilitating illnesses.”
Crohn’s disease is a
lifelong condition in which parts of the digestive system become inflamed. It can affect people of all ages and the
main symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach aches and cramps, tiredness and
extreme weight loss. Meanwhile, Colitis is similar but is based in the colon
and rectum. The symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach pain, and the need to empty
the bowels on a very frequent basis.
People taking part in Walk It Birmingham
are asked to raise £100 or more, which could help pay for 2,000 people to get
the information they need about Crohn’s and Colitis. Rachel’s target is £300, so
every pound donated will help her to reach and hopefully exceed it. You can top
up her fundraising pot on JustGiving,
and don’t forget to tick the box for Gift Aid.
We all wish Rachel and her family the
best of luck for this event, it sounds like it’s going to be a fantastic day in
aid of a very worthy cause.
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