A BRADFORD mum who is beating Crohn's disease to be the fitter and healthier than ever hopes her story will help inspire hundreds of others with the same debilitating condition.

Nadine Seery still has the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but is determined, despite some ups and downs and more surgery, to live life to the full.

On Saturday, May 14, the 62-year-old will be joining a 10km walk through Manchester to raise money and awareness for Crohn's & Colitis UK, supporting more than 300,000 people who have the condition country-wide, including Bradford-born magician Dynamo.

The charity is organising a series of walks, 5kms and 10kms, across the UK as part of its WALK IT campaign also being backed by TV Presenter Rylan Clark-Neal and former Towie favourite Sam Faiers who both have personal experience of IBD.

The Manchester walk will start from Cathedral Gardens next door to the National Football Museum, with music and entertainment for the whole family and Mrs Seery, of Greenfinch Way, Allerton, hopes people will sign up to sponsor her.

Her health first became affected by the disease 30 years ago after she collapsed at work as a home care assistant and was rushed to hospital where doctors found she had a blockage and kept her in for one week.

About two months later she collapsed again and was back on the gastric ward where she was diagnosed with an infection. Worse came when surgeons told her they thought she had cancer and needed surgery. After eight cancellations for the dreaded operation it finally went ahead and after a worrying three-day wait doctors eventually told her she was clear of cancer but did have Crohn's.

She now has a transfusion of an immuno-suppressant drug at St Luke'sHospital every eight weeks to help.

"I'd never heard of Crohn's before and had no idea what it was. I was petrified but one of the registrars must have seen the look of terror on my face. She came back later to put me at ease and told me her brother had it and I would be all right," said Mrs Seery.

"I joined Crohn’s and Colitis UK, got scared by peoples' own experiences and cancelled the magazine subscription but rejoined a few months later which was a good thing.

"They've really helped me find out more about my condition, get support and meet other people in the same boat as me.

"It's been up and down over the years, having to undergo two further surgeries, but now I'm the fittest and healthiest I have ever been.That's why I'm doing the Manchester walk to raise awareness and show support."

Mrs Seery, who attends Saltaire Wellness Centre in Dockfield Road, Shipley, will be accompanied by her friend Julie Addlington, of Clayton, on the walk.

To sponsor her go to justgiving.com/Nadine-Seery1