Friends! A plea for sponsorship!
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks the joints and other body tissues - I hadn't realised that it's the second most common form of arthritis in the UK.
It brings a whole plethora of symptoms, from very sore swollen (SWOLLEN) stiff joints, to extreme bone-deep fatigue that isn’t resolved by sleep or rest. Some days I’m not able to walk, dress myself, chew, or sleep without significant pain. On the outside though, I'll look pretty much my usual self. This means that people often don't understand the impact it's having.
When well controlled by medication(s) that suppress the immune system, things can be pretty great! But when not controlled, or when there's a flare (which can last days to weeks), it's really grim, really gruelling, and isolating.
I'm lucky to have my RA *mostly* controlled, but the fatigue is ever present. However, the medication can have some pretty unpleasant side effects (one of mine is also used as a chemo drug), and there is so much research needed to develop meds that aren't so tough on the body.
I’ve been so lucky to be offered a charity place for the London Marathon 2027 by Arthritis UK (formerly Versus Arthritis). I will be running to raise money for Arthritis UK in order to raise awareness, and funds, so that they can continue to support research, as well as people and their families living with RA and other forms of arthritis.
If you have even a couple of quid to spare, please do consider donating - I'd be so grateful ❤️
Laura will also be running and raising money for Arthritis UK - this is a condition that affects partners and families as well as the person with the disease. I'm so lucky to have her by my side (or in this case, miles in front!), and supporting me (and our fur-babies) when the RA gets the better of me.
If you, a family member, or friend, are living with RA, or one of the other many forms of arthritis, you are not alone. Do check out the resources and support available at Arthritis UK: https://www.arthritis-uk.org
Over 10 million people in the UK live with arthritis, affecting their ability to work, study, care for family, move free from pain and live independently. But arthritis is still poorly understood and far too little is done. That’s why Arthritis UK funds life-changing research, supports those affected and campaigns for change. Arthritis UK won’t rest until everyone with arthritis has access to the treatments and support they need to live the life they choose, with real hope of a cure in the future.
Thank you to my Sponsors
£213
Clare Sims
£107
Angela Sims
A great challenge! Enjoy and good luck
£107
John Rundall
Good luck
£107
Mummy R
Love you lots!
£54.75
Heyford Smiles
Best of luck and great cause,
£53.93
Naohiko Omata
Emma, I greatly admire your fundraising effort. Please allow me to support you. All the best!
£53.93
Mia Fletcher
Good luck!
£52.78
Jayne
Good Luck Em !!
£52.13
Theresa
Love you so much!! You are such an inspiration, I can't even begin to describe! You rock!
£52.13
Layla
Best of luck! I know how hard you’ve struggled and the fact you can run a marathon at all let alone with the challenges is amazing. You’ll smash it I’m sure.
£50.98
Hannah Sarson
Best of luck to you both in the run up and on the day!!!
£50
Susie & Juan
Good luck ladies! Sending love and squeezes! Xx
£50
Chris And Trudy
We are with you all the way ….. but only in spirit. Are you mad!! Sending you much love and BIG respect Xx Chris and Trudy
£33.15
Izzy
Good luck 🤞
£32.43
Paolo
Go Em! So brave of you to face RA with such determination!
£30.55
Anonymous
Good luck lovely.
£30.55
Becky Munday
Best of luck and such a good cause
£30.08
Em
We've got this! 😂
£30
Judith Howard
Sending much strength for the training ahead and huge respect for running a whole Marathon, simply awesome!
£30
Jane ( From The Gym)
Well done Em. Hope it goes well.
£26.22
David T
Good luck. Rather you than me😂
£25
Masooda Bano
Hope you meet the target.
£25
Jill & Peter Suddock
Go girls! Much love, Jill & Peter x
£23.45
Kevin R
Better you than me, I drive those sort of distances 😉😊🤷♂️ we’re with you on this, greatest respect
£23.45
Helen Turner
Good luck running!!
£20
Ashley And Jo
Good luck to you both!!! You will both be amazing and you're running for such a great cause ❤️
£20
Amogh Sharma
Best of luck, Emma! This is a cause close to my heart too :)
£20
Emma Clark
Can you pull me along please … enjoy and run well
£17.89
Mel Fewster
£17.89
Vandana Patel
Well done and good luck with your future
£17.89
Dan Hodgkinson
Smash it!
£17.10
The Langwicks
Booom to Arthritis particularly the auto immune kind ...
£15
Vicky Hudson
£15
Uttara Shahani
£15
The Langwicks
Good luck to you both!!
£12.25
Robert Lyon
Great cause great people well done both
£12.25
Miriam Mcgilvray
Go, Em!! Xxx
£12.25
Wing Lai
Hope you get all better soon！ stay strong:)
£12.25
Lisa Horwood
£12.25
Andrea Walford
£12.01
Tanya
❤️
£11.55
Dan Stoddart
Good luck! You will both smash it (Fuelled by FLTR Iced Drinks😃)
£10
Gillian Willis
£10
Sriharsha Yatham
Best wishes 🙂
£10
Hilary Varney
£10
Stephanie Giles
Go smash it lovelies & have a great time. Very inspirational and lots of love to you both, Steph xx
£6.56
Kat
Good luck Emma!
£6.56
Matthew Gooch
Good Luck Emma - You can do this.
£6.56
Ian Armstrong
£6.56
Natasha Williams
Good luck!
£6.18
Anonymous
£5
Anonymous
£5
We will be there to cheer you on! Xx