Isaac Rennie, 21, ran a half marathon for his girlfriend Lucy, 21, in aid of Arthritis UK after her shock rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis at only 17 years old.
Noticing the first arthritis symptoms.
Around the time of the first lockdown in 2020 Lucy started to notice a regular feeling of pain in her fingers and wrists. Like many of us, Lucy had decided to take up a new hobby in lockdown and for her it was playing the guitar, so she really thought nothing of these new pains. It wasn’t long after this that she noticed swelling in her knees leaving her feeling lost, confused and in constant pain.
“One day my knees were so swollen I remember crying to my parents from the pain and not being able to walk down the stairs. I didn’t know what was going on inside my body and I was really worried. I was supposed to be getting ready and excited for university. Instead, I was being rushed to the doctors for blood tests to find out what was causing this pain,” Lucy recalls.
It didn’t take long for the blood test to come back revealing a high level of inflammation and a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
Shortly after, Lucy was put on steroids to ease the pain and eventually found the right biological injection that has since helped her get her life back on track.
Isaac and Lucy's journey
Isaac and Lucy met at 18 before embarking on their university journey together and they have been together ever since. Isaac has been at Lucy's side through the ups and downs arthritis brings to her life.
After watching what Lucy has been through, Isaac ran a half marathon in aid of Arthritis UK, a cause that is now close to both their hearts.
“It has been difficult watching Lucy when she has a bad day," Isaac said. "It was particularly striking to me at the beginning, as one day she would be fine and the next she’d struggle to walk. We have adapted to this and now know the best ways to support her, when I am training this is always in the front of my mind, and I know Lucy’s strength getting through what she does will carry me to the finish line”.
Arthritis UK is the UK’s leading dedicated charity funder of groundbreaking arthritis research and has been involved in breakthroughs which have changed the landscape for people with rheumatoid arthritis, reducing chronic pain and helping them regain independence. The charity is working towards a future where people can live free from the pain of arthritis.
Now four years on from her diagnosis, Lucy has completed university and has just moved into her first home with Isaac.
“The thing that has surprised me the most since my diagnosis is how much freedom and life you can still have with a chronic condition. When I first got diagnosed, I thought any independence would be gone forever but now, after living alone at university and with the right medication, I have realised that a diagnosis doesn’t have to be the end of everything. I am eternally grateful for Arthritis UK, from being able to listen to the stories of others and not feeling alone, to the researchers who have provided me with medication to help me be pain free. It’s such a good community that I’m proud to be part of!”
Isaac has already raised over £680 and proudly joined Team Arthritis UK, where he completed a half marathon.
