Rick Parfitt Jr

Crohn's can get you into a very dark place. Like most people who suffer from Crohn's it made me feel very insecure I was very, very thin. To be able to put a race suit on and be recognised for being really quick as opposed to someone who is just thin and ill was a massive boost. Sport gave me the positivity to get through the pain.

My message to any sufferer would be to talk to people who have Crohn's, make yourself feel less embarrassed about the symptoms, feel positive about life and go after everything you want to achieve. Just because you have Crohn's doesn't mean you have to write off your dreams – go after all of them because you can achieve them.

I've been very lucky and I feel like I'm pretty much achieving a goal every day and for me that is the main thing. Set yourself little goals every day and every day a new goal can be achieved and ultimately, hopefully with my Foundation and Crohn's & Colitis UK we will either find a cure or hopefully substantially reduce the suffering of all of you.