16:38 Rachael Brown 23, Terene Stevens 41, Simon Purcell

Catherine
Harrison, 36
Tuxford, Notts
Catherine is a GP, as well as caring for many patients with arthritis and
other musculoskeletal problems, Catherine also has strong personal links
to the condition. Her father suffers with arthritis of his knees and back and
her mother-in-law has severe osteoarthritis of her hands. Catherine
recently set up a running group for women in her local area and finds this a
huge support to her training. “As a GP, I am very aware of how arthritis
affects people, in some cases leading to suffering chronic daily pain,
depression, anxiety and mobility problems, and the challenges faced in
everyday life. Running the Marathon for Arthritis Research UK is my way of
contributing to the resources I and my patients use so regularly, and also
raising awareness in my local area of the charity and its work"
Arthritis
Research UK
Michelle
Hoffman
Benwick,
Cambs.
Michelle was just 15 when she was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis,
a form of arthritis which causes inflammation to the joints in the spine and
other areas of the body. When she first began to experience back pain at
the age of 13, doctors assumed that this was a result of a bowel condition
until a blood test several years later revealed that the cause was
Ankylosing Spondylitis. By the time she was 17, Michelle’s hips and back
had become extremely painful and inflamed and she struggled to walk.
She could not move her neck, often used a wheelchair and needed help
with almost every task. After being almost entirely bedridden for a year,
Michelle was prescribed a new treatment called Humira. Just three hours
later, Michelle was able to stand unaided for the first time in a year. Within
two weeks, she was able to walk again and is now completely pain-free.
Arthritis
Research UK
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