10 Races for 10 Years

Why 10 Races for 10 Years?

10 years ago, acute pancreatitis left me seriously ill in intensive care. Although I recovered, it was a life-changing experience that has stayed with me ever since. This was me many years after leaving hospital. I’d given up drinking and smoking, but my fitness and diet still weren’t where they needed to be (as you can probably tell!). Then, during a camping trip, I experienced familiar sharp pains that immediately brought back memories of my hospital stay. After a follow-up with my GP, I decided it was time to make some changes.

Last year, despite having lost over 5 stone and being in the best shape of my life, I experienced another flare-up while on holiday. It was a reminder that pancreatitis isn’t something I can leave in the past. As my 10-year milestone approached, I wanted to use the opportunity to contribute to improving understanding and treatment for those who may face pancreatitis in the future. 10 years later, so much remains unknown and there is still no treatment that can stop the inflammation.

Why Guts UK?

Guts UK is the national charity for the digestive system, supporting research, awareness and information for digestive conditions including pancreatitis. They are currently the only UK charity funding a research fellowship into pancreatitis to better understand the condition and improve treatment.