My Story

In 2010 I was diagnosed with Seropositive Juvenile Idiopathic arthritis. Essentially, my immune system attacks my own cells, tissues and joints when it doesn't need to. With thanks to Versus Arthritis, research has come a long way in finding new treatment options to put conditions like mine into medicated remission, to allow young people like me to live a closest to "normal" life as possible.

Since diagnosis I have tried many different treatments and thankfully now on a mix that works well for me. Together with anti TNF medication (biologics) such as Etanercet injections and DMARDS such as Methotrexate and knowledge around the condition I am minimally affected by the symptoms of JIA. It was through key research grants funded in the 1980s that led to biologics as a new class of drugs such as biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, specifically anti TNF drugs. With money raised through events like the London Marathon 2022 I hope to work together with other people to raise money for a charity that is so close to my heart, to allow research into conditions like mine.

So please help me in raising money and come and support me on Sunday 2nd October running 26.2miles through the streets of London!