Hi, I’m Alex, and in 2026 I’m taking on the Berlin Half Marathon to raise funds and awareness for the Crohn's and Colitis Ireland foundation — a cause that’s incredibly personal to me. I‘m not Irish, but I did get diagnosed with Crohn’s disease as a young adult, and it’s something I’ve had to learn to live with every single day. Crohn’s isn’t just a “stomach problem.” It’s a chronic, often invisible disease that affects the entire digestive tract, bringing with it pain, fatigue, unpredictable flare-ups, and long hospital stays. For young people at the beginning of their diagnosis, it means missing out on school, work, social life, and the freedom to live without constant worry about your health. While I‘m extremely lucky to have a great support network and no symptoms with the help of my doctors, others are not as fortunate. Be it because of a lack of resources, feeling ashamed and not seeking help or treatment, or because of the severity of their illness - many are not able to live their life to the fullest. These are the people I‘m running for. Your support means more than just a donation — it’s a step toward better treatment, more research, and hope for the millions living with IBD. Every kilometer I run in Berlin is for those who can’t, and every euro raised brings us closer to a cure. Cheers, Alex