Charity | Charity News – 380 Mile Spinathon – Raises Awareness for Chronic Pancreatitis
Charity spin class raises over £4,000 to help fund ongoing research at the university hospitals of Leicester Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Unit.
When Imogen and her friend Annie found out that her cousin was receiving treatment at the HPB unit in Leicester they wanted to do all that could to help raise money to fund the ongoing research at the unit.
The two friends organised a charity spin-a-thon. A spin-a-thon is a fundraising event when the participants ride on a stationary exercise bicycle in a gym or events space. Thirteen people took part in the event covering 380 miles, the distance between Belfast and Leicester the exact distance her cousin travelled, to receive his treatment.
Imogen’s cousin had battled chronic pancreatitis due to a rare genetic mutation for over seven years meaning countless hospital admissions, very difficult lifestyle and diet adjustments as well as living with severe abdominal pain almost every day.
He underwent a total pancreatectomy, the removal of his pancreas, an operation that would help control his symptoms and improve his quality of life after every other treatment had failed.
Imogen said “I wanted to do my part to help fund the amazing and innovative research this specialist unit carries out so they can continue to change the lives of those living with pancreatic disease.”
Chronic pancreatitis is a condition where the pancreas has become permanently damaged from inflammation and stops working properly. It can affect people of any age but usually develops in men between the ages of 30-40. Affecting approximately 12,000 patients in the U.K every year.