My Activity Tracking
192
kms
My target 180kms
Total activity
192kms
I'm living fearlessly this September. Will you support me?
I’m taking on the Live Fearless Challenge this September to raise awareness and funds for the almost 180,000 Australians living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
IBD is one of the most misunderstood chronic health conditions. Yet people living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are ‘frequent flyers’ of the hospital system. It strips away income, disrupts education, work, relationships and travel, and can have a significant impact on both physical and mental health.
That’s why I’m getting active this September and aiming to complete 150km. Every kilometre is for the thousands of people living with IBD who face this in silence.
Consider supporting me as I take on the LFC! Your donation will help fund research, patient support, education and advocacy - because no one should have to manage this disease on their own.
My Achievements
Profile Pic Uploaded
Created a Blog Post
In a Team
Shared Page on Social
Sent Email
Self Donated
Received First Donation
Halfway to your $ goal
Reached your $ goal
Logged First Activity
Halfway to your KM goal
Reached KM goal
First 100 to Register
My Updates
My journey with Crohns
My battle with Crohns started long before I had a diagnosis. Not long after my Nan passed away i became very ill, being a child they always said it was gastro or a tummy bug and it will go away on its own. Well that wasnt the case. My mum pushed the drs to do further testing which took months but finally they confirmed i had Crohns disease. By the time my diagnosis came I'd already lost so much weight, unable to keep food down and constantly in pain. I was admitted to the childrens ward and stayed there for a month. While other kids were enjoying there summer holidays i was stuck in hospital being tube fed due to the dramiatic weight loss and malnutrition. I was 9 at the time and it felt like my whole world had collapsed. I was seeing a dietitian, a therapist and a whole heap of drs this was now my 'normal'.After finding a great specialist my treatment began. I would get into remission for maybe a few years on some medications before my body would build up an imunity and they would stop working. I tried every treatment available for Crohns some were trial drugs and i even retried some ones id tried in the past but they wouldnt work for long. I was running out of options but my specialist never gave up on me. Endless battles growing up, missing school and social events. Some days, I was anxious to leave the house, and always ensured, no matter where I went, I knew where the toilet was.
I've had 2 bowel resections, surgeries for perianal abcesses, drug trials, infusions and endless colonoscopies. 2 bowel perforations from colonoscopies and over 100 admissions to the hospital during my journey with Crohns.
Then there is all the other things you get just from having Crohns, arthritis, osteoporosis, adenomyosis, fatigue, anxiety, depression, strict diets, low iron levels and constant toilet trips the list goes on.
Im currently on Stelara every 4 weeks which has gotten me into active remission, I still experience symptoms here and there (remission doesn’t always mean being completely symptom-free) but my CRP levels remain normal and there are no visible signs of inflammation in my bowel.
Living with Crohns, has been anything but straight forward but I have learnt so much about myself, how to advocate for myself when something doesn’t feel right, to listen to my body, to not let it hold me back from anything and most importantly the power of a positive mindset. I also found comfort by reaching out to someone on the CCA support group, who also suffers from Crohns and it really helped me to have someone who "just got it" without explanation or judgement.
That’s why I’m getting active this September and aiming to complete 150km. Every kilometre is for the thousands of people living with IBD who face this in silence.
Consider supporting me as I take on the LFC! Your donation will help fund research, patient support, education and advocacy.
Thankyou
Big thankyou to all those who have donated so far. Your money will go towards research for Crohns ?Thank you to my Sponsors
$100
Anonymous
$36
Mum
Love you lots keep up the good fight xx
$85.48
Kyandra
Without Crohn’s, our paths never would have crossed. Grateful for you and doing this for our disease! Xxxx
$20
Danielle Blay
$25
Facebook Donation
$51
Bryce Camino
$20
Jenny Barnes
$64.67
Jacquie Woolsey
Here’s to your next goal I’ll walk next to you always proud to call you one of my best friends and lucky to witness your strength every single day with a smile on your face even when your having a bad day
$54.12
Tilly And Maumau
Go well, Rachel! Good on you for accepting the challenge!
$22.58
Rachel
$5
Anonymous
$20.53
