Tahlia Thrush

I'm living fearlessly this September. Will you support me?

I'm taking on the Live Fearless Challenge again this September - because Crohn’s disease has changed my life in ways I never expected.

In November 2022, I was rushed to hospital after collapsing from intense pain. After what felt like 900 tests and 13 hours in ED, I was sent home with a diagnosis of kidney stones and a referral to a gastroenterologist. It wasn’t until later they discovered the real issue: a 10cm section of my bowel was narrowed to the width of a pinhole. For context, it's meant to be about the width of your little finger.

Since then, I’ve been through it all - steroids, immunosuppressants, biologic injections, countless blood tests and appointments. Crohn’s is relentless. It’s not just a stomach issue - it’s fatigue, pain, fear, and the constant weight of uncertainty. Every time I eat, I feel it. Every day I live with it.

I'm not sharing this for sympathy. I don’t need people to feel sorry for me. I share it to raise awareness - and to help people understand that Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is more than what meets the eye. It's invisible, but it’s there every second.

So this September, I’m walking/skating 150km - not just for myself, but for the 180,000+ Australians living with Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis. For the people who suffer silently. For the ones who are newly diagnosed and scared. For those searching for a treatment that works.

Every dollar raised goes towards research, education, patient support, and advocacy - so that people like me can have a better future.

Please support if you can. Every step matters. Every story matters. And no one should have to face this alone.