My Crohn's Story

I became ill at the beginning of 2015 and no one was sure what was wrong with me. Was it a tummy bug? Was it celiac? Was it lactose intolerance? Finally after many wrong diagnoses, blood tests, scans and samples, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s in March of 2015 aged 10.

After being diagnosed, I was put on an 8-week liquid diet (magic modulen as my mum calls it) which helped get me back to a point I could cope with day-to-day life and put back on the 15 or so kilos that I had lost.

Then came the problem of medication. There’s no cure for Crohn’s, so an immunosuppressant is used to stop your body from attacking itself. After my body rejected the first two types I am now on a third, which is a weekly injection and works well for me, bar a few blip days where I have to spend the day in bed.

Living with Crohn’s comes with many symptoms and obstacles like stomach cramps, diarrhoea, constipation, fatigue and much more. This can make going out challenging leaving you with thoughts like where the nearest toilets are and will your mates notice if your energy isn’t the usual 100%?

Having lived with Crohn’s for 8 years, I’m only just beginning to learn what works for me and have enhanced my toilet radar (doesn’t mean I haven’t had to use nature's toilet a couple of times tho!). I’ve found that combined with my meds, doing CrossFit and controlling my diet has massively helped keep me in remission. Not only that, I’ve found being open with my mates has really helped fight the mental side of this disease.

I don’t only want to do this challenge to raise money to help find a cure and improve medications but to also show to other year 6s and people newly diagnosed that Crohn’s is a part of you and not something that controls you.

At least 90% of the money raised will go straight to Crohn's and Colitis UK with the other 10% (or less) going towards funding the costs of the ride.

To watch the progress of this challenge follow my Instagram - gregcarter12

For more information on Crohn's go to https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/info-support/information-about-crohns-and-colitis