Emily raises £800 for Kids with Guts

First diagnosed with Crohn's Disease when she was nine years old, Emily Carr has been cared for and treated by the Southampton paediatric IBD team and has been busy fundraising for the charity.

Shortly after she was diagnosed in December 2013, Emily met IBD research nurse, Rachel Haggarty, who told Emily and her family about our IBD clinical research study in Southampton, and invited them to take part. It was at this time that the family asked about local charities that support IBD in children, as they wanted to fundraise.

"When Rachel told me about Kids with Guts," said Emily, "I thought this could be a good way to turn my Crohn's into a positive, and raising money for research made me feel nice and really proud to be able to help others like me." 

Emily has since raised over £800 for the charity through school non-uniform days and a fete, a sponsored swim and a family and friends walk along the Test Way. Amazingly, having had a general anaesthetic the day before, Emily managed to walk five miles – leaving her dad to carry her wheelchair over all the stiles!

“I found it very humbling that so early on in her diagnosis, and at such a young age, Emily had such inspiration and was making plans to be so proactive to help herself and others in the future” said Rachel.

"We're so proud of Emily,” said Emily’s mum, Therasa and Dad, Andy. “It’s been tough, but she's been so brave coming to terms with her Crohn's and still finding the energy to fundraise at the same time.”

We thank Emily for all of her fantastic fundraising so far and wish her well with her plans to raise more funds.

“At a recent appointment , it was great to see Emily with a smile and hear her say: I’m feeling really well – the best I’ve been in a very long time,” said Rachel.