Crossed Grain February 2020

February 2020 Issue 108 Your charity newsletter I never suspected that I had coeliac disease, and only found out after giving blood in 2017. I was informed I had anaemia and after further testing was eventually diagnosed with coeliac disease. “I have no noticeable symptoms which some may say is a good thing, but it concerns me that I could have gone a long time without knowing what damage was being done to my body. “Following a bone density scan, I was told that I have thin bones and am on track to develop osteoporosis. Thankfully, being diagnosed at a relatively young age has enabled me to stop and hopefully reverse the existing damage, by living on a gluten free diet. “I’m running the London Marathon to raise money for Coeliac UK and help increase awareness of the disease. I’m absolutely terrified - the idea of anyone being able to run that distance seems ridiculous, let alone me! I still don’t think the fact that I’m doing it has fully sunk in. “I would love it if the disease was more widely known about and discussed. I have found that it is regularly misunderstood for being ‘cool’, ‘healthy’ or that it is my ‘choice’ to be gluten free. It can easily go undetected too, so if more people knew about the harm it can cause, it would make a big difference”. You can sponsor Abigail on her marathon journey by visiting www.justgiving.com/AbiTormey “I’M ON TEAM COELIAC UK ” Abigail Tormey tells us what taking on the London Marathon on 26 April means to her. Take on a challenge in 2020! If you’re inspired by Abigail’s story, and would like to find out more about joining Team Coeliac UK, visit coeliac.org.uk/challenges 2020 Challenges • Manchester Half and 10k 24 May • Edinburgh Marathon Festival 23 May and 24 May • Asics London 10k 5 July • Ride London 16 August • Great North Run , Newcastle 13 September • Cardiff Half Marathon 4 October • Royal Parks Half Marathon , London 11 October • Santa Run , London 6 December “ “Being diagnosed relatively young helped me stop the damage” Not a runner? We have information on lots more events and ways to fundraise for Coeliac UK. Get in touch with Max for more information: max.walker@coeliac.org.uk