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Eighteen months ago, London to Brighton seemed impossible, but look where we are now!! We’re in training to pedal 280 miles starting from Greenwich Observatory in London all the way to the Eiffel Tower in Paris in just 4 consecutive days for Coeliac UK

Jo's Story:  "This challenge is close to my heart as we are hoping that people do not need to suffer the ill effects of undiagnosed Coeliac disease in the way my daughter and I unfortunately did. At the age of two and a half, my daughter was finally diagnosed with Coeliac Disease, after suffering many many months of horrific constipation, severe bloating, inflamed dry skin, limp hair, dark eyes and worrying weight loss.

At our first Paediatric appointment before diagnosis, following several months of multiple illnesses, I was left insulted and outraged when given the diagnosis of "First Child Syndrome" without even a physical examination!

One month into a strict food regime, I demanded a second opinion, as I felt we were starving our toddler. At the second Paediatric appointment, armed with photos of our sick child, a physical examination and blood tests returned the result 'strongly positive' for coeliac disease. Eventually a further referral including gastrointestinal biopsies under a general anaesthetic led to a much needed gluten free diet ... a day that changed her life forever. 

SLOWLY things improved and she is the happy pre-teen she is today.  Unfortunately, the delay in diagnosis has left her scarred with a negative relationship with food, as the association of pain and discomfort when consuming it occurred during a crucial developmental time in her life.

As for me, my diagnosis was a few years after my daughters and took 7 months, including a week of hospital admission, to finally confirm through biopsies that I also had Coeliac Disease. Two blood tests for Coeliac disease were negative and my family had to endure the thought that my condition involved something more sinister because of the rapid weight loss.  BUT ... although a gluten free diet is restrictive, with the support of Coeliac UK and the ever increasing availability of Gluten Free products both my daughter and I keep healthy and happy, and I am able to embark upon this great physical challenge."  Jo x

Without this crucial diagnosis, long term effects of being undiagnosed would lead to bowel cancers, osteoporosis, and other chronic illnesses.  We hope to improve essential diagnosis and avoid any parent or person having to endure what Jo and her daughter had to.

Thank you in advance for reading and donating ... no amount is too small.

Rachel and Jo


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