Aneica Duffy

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when I was 16. It was very painful. I felt tired, sick and lost so much weight. Medication did not help me so I had surgery at 19 and again at 21, which involved having part of my bowel removed and a stoma fitted. Despite this, I have never let it hold me back. I love playing the sport of camogie competitively and eight months after my surgery, I ran a leg of the Belfast Marathon. Last October I even did a skydive. My message to anyone with inflammatory bowel disease or who has a stoma is, don’t let it stop you living the active life you want, you can do anything!