In this article, Tom Newman shares his inspiring journey of preparing for his first marathon on 29 October 2023, despite never having run more than 5km before!

When donations started coming into my Give-a-little page I knew I definitely couldn’t give up during my first 42-kilometre marathon.

This personal challenge held particular significance because, prior to this, my longest run was just 5 kilometres. The training process provided me with an appreciation of just how long 42 kilometres is!

I faced another significant challenge last year as my medication, which I had relied on for the past seven years, stopped working for me. Thanks to the support of some amazing nurses and the excellent resources provided by Crohn's and Colitis NZ, I transitioned to Infliximab. Despite a rocky start, I'm now back to being happy and healthy.

I'm fortunate enough to have these resources available to me, so I wanted to play my part in ensuring that Crohn's and Colitis NZ remains a lifeline for other people in the future. 

The money generously donated through Give-a-little, served as a strong motivator for me to complete this marathon.

If you would like to follow Tom's journey, please check out his Give-a-little page.

CCNZ thanks Tom for this incredible effort and support of CCNZ!