Hello- Many of you will know my brother Callum as the happy, full-of-life person he has always been. He’s the kind of person who lights up a room — always smiling, always friendly, and never without time for anyone he meets. He has always been incredibly fit, spending most days in the gym (where a lot of you will know him from!), pushing himself physically and mentally, and living life to the fullest.

This year, however, his life changed in ways none of us could ever have imagined.

On Christmas Day 2024, my brother was diagnosed with Addison’s disease, a rare and lifelong condition. In short terms, Addison’s disease (also known as primary adrenal insufficiency) occurs when the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys, do not produce enough essential hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone. This is most often caused by the immune system attacking the adrenal glands. As a result, those living with Addison’s can experience extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, weight loss, low blood pressure, salt cravings, changes in skin pigmentation, and in severe cases a life-threatening adrenal crisis.

Although Addison’s disease can be managed with lifelong hormone replacement therapy, daily life remains uncertain and requires constant monitoring, medication adjustments, and awareness. Sadly, because my brother had always been so healthy and fit, there were no prior warning signs. His first indication that something was wrong came when he suffered a serious adrenal crisis just before Christmas in 2024 — a terrifying and life-altering moment for him and for all of us.

Addison’s disease is still relatively unknown, with limited research and awareness. This often results in a lack of understanding and access to specialised treatment, making management even more challenging. To help improve his day-to-day life, my brother now has to travel to London for private treatment, where he can receive specialist care not widely available elsewhere. In an ideal world, we hope to provide Callum with one of the newly introduced medical pumps that deliver hydrocortisone continuously under the skin. These devices mimic the body’s natural cortisol rhythm, offering a far more stable and responsive form of treatment. The difference this could make to Callum’s day-to-day life is beyond what most people can imagine. Alongside the physical toll, this has also placed a huge financial strain on him. As a devoted father of two running a household with his Fiancé, the ongoing cost of treatment, travel, and medical care is becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

That is why myself, my boyfriend and my two cousins Immy and Fin have set up this GoFundMe. We are raising money to support our brother/cousin and help ease some of the pressure he is under. As part of this, we will all be running the Yorkshire Marathon in 2026 in aid of his condition (wish us luck lol!) — and he will be right there on the sidelines, supporting us every step of the way, just as he always has supported everyone else.

The changes he’s had to make to his life have been drastic, and alongside battling a life-changing physical condition, he has also had to face challenges with his mental health. Adjusting to a new reality, losing parts of the life he once knew, and living with constant uncertainty is something no one should have to face alone. Despite this, he has shown incredible strength, resilience, and courage, and we are all unbelievably proud of him.

He is a very private person and never wants any fuss or attention, so even sharing his story like this is far outside of his comfort zone. But in order for him to get the help and support he needs, we have to speak up and share it.

He will be so incredibly touched by any support anyone can offer — whether that’s a donation, big or small, or even just sharing this page to help spread his story. Every single act of kindness means more than we can express, and we are so grateful to everyone who takes the time to read, donate, or share.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us support my brother and give him the best possible chance of living a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.