I’m very proud to be an ambassador for the charity, and I’m really excited to take on this challenge. I want to raise vital funds to help them carry out the important work that they do within the Crohn’s and Colitis community. 

When I was diagnosed with Colitis at just 16 years old, it took me a very long time to come to terms with my diagnosis. A full year before I was diagnosed, I was suffering from debilitating symptoms.

I had fatigue, joint pain, vision problems, constant abdominal pain, weight loss, and frequent and urgent bowel movements. I knew something wasn’t right, but I had never heard of Colitis, so I wasn’t aware of the symptoms or what to look out for.

My year of misdiagnosis is one of many reasons why I believe it’s so important to raise awareness of Colitis and Crohn’s, and ensure people know more about these common invisible conditions.

In the year before I was diagnosed, my body was incredibly fragile and weak.

I was training with the dream of making a home Olympic Games by qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics, whilst also in my final year of school studying for my end-of-year GCSE exams. All whilst very ill. It’s fair to say I had a lot on my plate during that time. 

I was constantly embarrassed about having to run to the toilet. It was also just at the start of my professional sporting career, and I was worried that talking about my health struggles would give the impression I was weak or not up to the task at hand.  

Managing my condition, whilst trying to train as an elite athlete, was almost impossible at times. Thankfully, I had the amazing support of my close family and friends, and I was still able to achieve everything that I set out to do in my sport.

Despite the way I was feeling, I still managed to achieve my dream of competing at London 2012. I was the youngest member of the Team GB swimming team, and I swam in a home Olympic final at just 16 years old. This is something I am incredibly proud of because the determination, drive and perseverance that I developed to achieve that goal.

I always used to remind myself of the infamous Michael Jordan quote:

“I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

The best advice that I give anyone competing in sport whilst trying to manage a chronic condition would be:

‘Don’t take the tough times to heart and if you want to continue chasing your goals, the path to success won’t be smooth sailing. It will be bumpy and full of obstacles, but it’s how you pick yourself up after those hard times and how you bounce back from failure or disappointment that really matters. 

No athlete, no matter how great or successful, has ever had a career full of complete highs without failure and hard times.’

I was very nervous about having something so personal out in the open. However, I was completely overwhelmed by the hundreds of kind, thoughtful, honest and inspiring messages I received from the Crohn’s and Colitis community. So many people shared their own stories with me and expressed how they felt uplifted by seeing people in the media be open about their condition. 

At this moment, I realised how true that sentiment was. In my experience, whenever I’ve listened to another person talk about their illness and share their experiences, I have gained strength, felt heard, felt seen, and gained courage as a result.

Fundraising for the Crohn’s & Colitis UK has always been very important to me and my family. In 2017 my dad cycled Lands’ End to John O’Groats, and last year my partner, Jake, and his friends cycled the North Coast 500 in Scotland. Both of them raised a great amount of money for Crohn's & Colitis UK. I'm really excited to finally have the opportunity to take on a fundraising challenge of my own and to give back to the community who have really helped me through some tough times. 

I really don’t enjoy running. I wish I did but unfortunately it doesn’t come naturally. The training has been gruelling, and some days I really question how I’m going to make it to the finish line in October. My limbs are not used to any impact or weight bearing sport, so trying to condition my body to withstand the effects of the training has been really hard. 

However, I am so excited to have the opportunity to support the charity in this way. Crohn’s & Colitis UK do so much to support our community and have given me lots of support for many years. Running the marathon for this team means a lot to me, and I’m determined to make it to the finish line to raise as much money as I can.

I have been inspired by the many strong members and supporters of the Crohn's and Colitis community. They make me want to continue to share my story, spread awareness and combat the stigma of this disease. I have seen how empowering doing so has been to myself but also to others with similar experiences.