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 6^th 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 60^th 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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