A County Durham dad is set to become the Great North Run’s only home dialysis patient from the region when he takes the course with his consultant on Sunday (September 10).
Craig Hill, 39, from Sherburn Hill, County Durham, was just 22 when he was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).
He was initially given a scan because of his family links to the condition.
Read more: Teesside Airport and Teesside University launch skills academy
In Mr Hill's case, his dad David, 71, and sister Laura McLean, 45, were diagnosed with it first before his mum Gill, 68, was coincidently told she had kidney failure.
His dad has since had a transplant, while his sister received one from a living donor. His mum now has stage four kidney failure.
The condition can cause a kidney to become larger because thousands of cysts form on the surface.
It can lead to high blood pressure and make the organ fail.
In families with PKD, there is a 50 per cent chance someone with PKD will pass it on to their child.
The reality for the County Durham dad is that he undergoes dialysis on a home machine every other day.
His care is overseen by Sunderland Royal Hospital’s Renal Unit.
He works from home for HMRC and is able to connect to the equipment while he works.
This Sunday, he will be running the half marathon alongside his consultant Dr Saeed Ahmed.
His doctor believes he is the only home dialysis patient from the region to be taking part.
The County Durham resident, who is married to Tamsin, 41, and is dad to Eloise, five, will be running to raise funds for the PKD Charity, while Dr Ahmed will run for Kidney Care UK.
Mr Hill and his wife Eloise will also take part in the Mini Great North Run on the Newcastle Quayside on Saturday (September 9), having taken part last year.
As part of his drive to keep well, Craig, who is originally from Hartlepool, plays as a forward for the Cleveland Comets Ice Hockey Team.
This Great North Run will be his fourth.
Mr Hill said: “PKD is different for everyone. My Dad and sister were really nauseous and lost a lot of weight.
"I’ve had chronic fatigue and I feel a lot better now, I also had restless legs and cramps.
“Taking part in the Great North Run was my wife’s daft idea and we both got a place. I try and get as much exercise as I can to help keep fit and well.
He added: “I home dialyse every other day for four hours at a time and do it while I work from home. The process is fine and it’s going well, but the weekends can make it tricky to fit in.
“I’ve already hit my £300 target. Raising a bit of money to help others is my main motivation for taking part and I’ll be very happy to finish with any time.”
Dr Saeed Ahmed, who Craig will be running with on Sunday, added: “This just shows that you can have a successful, active life on dialysis.
“Most people would be gobsmacked to hear a home dialysis patient is running and I think this is a first for someone like Craig.
Get the latest news, sports, and entertainment delivered straight to your device by subscribing to The Northern Echo here.
“This can only go to show other people how you can live well as a home dialysis patient and it is important for them to know.
“What Craig is doing here is showing he is controlling the disease and the disease is not controlling his life. Patients can get up, and keep fit, and I’m very proud of him for that.
“My big concern is he’s going to get a better time than me.”
Craig’s sponsorship page can be found here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here