• Swindon & Wiltshire Community champions
• Wednesday September 27 2023
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Heating company owner takes on 450k step challenge for rheumatoid arthritis

The co-owner of John Williams Heating Services in Chippenham, Debbie Williams, has taken the challenge of raising money for the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society campaign (NRAS) after she was diagnosed with the condition some years ago.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints, usually affecting the hands, feet, and wrists. Those who experience this condition have flare-ups, where symptoms can get significantly worse and treatments focus on minimising and preventing long-term damage to joints. Other symptoms include tiredness and weight loss.

“My journey with RA began in early 2016 when I started experiencing constant tiredness alongside painful hands and feet with stiffness and swelling.

“After starting to take alternative remedies, thinking it was old age and perimenopause, I then turned to a doctor and I found out it was RA,” Debbie said.

She manages her condition by keeping as active as possible by “walking whenever I can, doing yoga and meditation and on my bad days I do swimming, a form of exercise that is extremely helpful for my joints”.

For Rheumatoid Arthritis Month this September, Debbie has set herself the challenge to walk 15,000 steps a day, a total of 450,000 steps to raise funds and awareness of RA.

“I’m excited to push myself in aid of the NRAS. It’s both manageable and a challenge because I have to condition myself, but my main aim is to raise as much as possible for this wonderful organisation.”

Debbie is not the only one drawing attention to the campaign. Kirsty Young from Radio 4 is the voice of NRAS’ appeal for support, after her own diagnosis in 2018. Debbie and Kirsty are two of the 18 million who have been affected by RA in the world.

To support Debbie, you can donate at https://nras.org.uk/bbcappeal/