Haydn Thomson

Why I’m Running the London Marathon for Arthritis UK

My name is Haydn Thomson, and in 2027 I’ll be taking on the challenge of running the TCS London Marathon in support of Arthritis UK.

This marathon is deeply personal to me.

Rheumatoid arthritis has affected my family for as long as I can remember. My mum has lived with the condition throughout my life, and I’ve seen first hand how it impacts every aspect of daily living. Simple things that many of us take for granted can become painful and exhausting, while the constant, invisible pain often goes unnoticed by others. 

This year has been particularly difficult. My mum has faced major surgery on her right wrist and has now been told she will also need surgery on the other. She will never be able to bend her wrist again. Watching someone you love go through that is incredibly hard. It’s not only the physical pain, but also the loss of independence, the emotional strain, and the determination it takes to keep going every single day.

Despite everything, my mum continues to face each challenge with remarkable strength and resilience. She inspires me every day, and she is the reason I’m running the London Marathon.

My goal is to raise at least £3,000 for Arthritis UK to help fund research, provide support for people living with arthritis, and raise awareness of a condition that affects millions of people across the UK.

💓 My mums story 💓 

My mum’s journey with rheumatoid arthritis began in 2002. She was just 29 years old when what seemed like a simple sore finger and overwhelming fatigue became the start of something that would change her life forever.

Before long, the pain spread to her hands, wrists and feet. She knew something wasn’t right, but getting answers wasn’t easy. At first, she was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and underwent surgery, hoping it would finally explain the pain and exhaustion she was living with every day. It didn’t. The symptoms continued, and it wasn’t until January 2005 on her birthday that she finally received the diagnosis: rheumatoid arthritis.

Receiving a diagnosis brought relief in one way, but it also marked the beginning of a lifelong battle.

She started various medications before eventually finding some stability with weekly methotrexate. For a while, life felt manageable again. The pain eased, her energy returned, and she was able to enjoy life more. But that didn’t last. The medication that was helping her disease also made her incredibly unwell. Within half an hour of taking it, she knew what was coming days of nausea and illness that lasted five out of every seven days. Even switching to injections couldn’t stop the side effects.

The next step was biologic medication. She began Cimzia, and for the first time in years, she felt like herself again. She often describes it as a “wonder drug.” She had around three to four years where life felt almost normal. When the medication eventually became less effective, she moved onto Benepali (etanercept), and once again she got her life back. She returned to exercising, strength training and doing the things she loved without constantly thinking about pain.

But rheumatoid arthritis never truly goes away.

Alongside the medication changes, the disease continued to damage her joints. She has undergone a big toe fusion, lives with permanent damage in both wrists, and recently had a total wrist fusion. She already knows more surgery lies ahead for her other wrist.

Now she is preparing to start her third biologic treatment, hoping once again that it will slow the disease and give her back some of the freedom it has taken away.

Living with rheumatoid arthritis means living with uncertainty. Every morning begins with the same question: How am I going to feel today? Some days, getting out of bed feels impossible. Other days, when the medication is working, she feels almost like everyone else. But there is always a reminder of a  painful joint, overwhelming fatigue or another operation,that rheumatoid arthritis is always there.

The progress made through research has transformed the lives of people like my mum. Without the work of Arthritis UK and the incredible research they fund, many people would still face years of unbearable pain, severe deformity and very limited treatment options. Today’s medications don’t offer a cure, but they offer hope, independence and precious years of living life more fully.

Watching my mum face this disease with such resilience has been inspiring. She has never let rheumatoid arthritis define her, even though it has shaped so much of her life.

That’s why running the London Marathon means so much to me. Every mile I run is for my mum, for everyone living with rheumatoid arthritis, and for the hope that one day no one will have to endure the journey she has. If more research can mean fewer surgeries, better treatments and ultimately a cure, then every step will be worth it.

Thank you for taking time out your day to read this. A small donation, like, share would be greatly appreciated. This isn’t for me. This is for my mum. This is for every single person living with arthritis. Together, we can make a change. 💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛