My PSC story - Nicholas Antolik
Nicholas Antolik
My Story
I am running the 2025 TCS London Marathon to raise funds for PSC Support, the only UK charity dedicated to helping people with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC).
PSC is a rare and devastating autoimmune disease that affects around 500 people per million, targeting the liver and bile ducts. Those living with PSC face liver failure, infections, and a heightened risk of aggressive cancers. Tragically, there is no cure or effective treatment for PSC—but with your support, we can help change that.
PSC Support plays a critical role in the lives of people like me, providing information and advocacy for better healthcare and psychological support. Importantly, they also fund groundbreaking research, driving us closer to the possibility of a cure. Despite advances in research over the past decade, PSC remains poorly understood. But with more funding and awareness, we can bring hope to those who desperately need treatment options.
My PSC Journey
I was diagnosed with PSC in 2013 when I was just 12 years old. My diagnosis came as a shock—my symptoms were subtle, and it took multiple visits to doctors and hospitals before we found the cause. It wasn’t until a liver function test revealed elevated results that we finally identified PSC.
At the time, the diagnosis didn’t affect me as much as you might think. I was still playing outside and living life as any kid would. But it was hard for my parents, learning that their child had a chronic liver disease. The support from PSC Support and amazing medical teams helped us feel less alone in this journey.
How PSC Affects Me
PSC does impact my life, but I’ve learned not to let it define me. Itching, fatigue, and jaundice are part of my day-to-day, and I’ve had serious setbacks—like a 10-day hospital stay in 2022 due to bacterial cholangitis, which was a low point for me. Despite that, I’ve become determined to live life on my terms. Working out and running have become essential to my routine, and I refuse to let PSC stop me from achieving my goals.
The toughest part is dealing with jaundice, which affects my confidence, especially when meeting new people. But I’ve learned to accept that this is part of who I am and something I can’t control.
Why I’m Fundraising
Living with PSC has shown me firsthand the need for better support, research, and treatment options. I’m running this marathon not just for myself, but for everyone living with this condition. By raising funds for PSC Support, I hope to help push research forward and bring us closer to a cure.
Every donation, no matter the size, helps make a difference. Thank you for supporting me and PSC Support in the fight against this life-changing disease. Together, we can create hope for a brighter future.
Every penny counts.
#LetsBeatPSC
Thank you!
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Target
£5,000
-
Raised so far
£4,401
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Number of donors
92
My Story
I am running the 2025 TCS London Marathon to raise funds for PSC Support, the only UK charity dedicated to helping people with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC).
PSC is a rare and devastating autoimmune disease that affects around 500 people per million, targeting the liver and bile ducts. Those living with PSC face liver failure, infections, and a heightened risk of aggressive cancers. Tragically, there is no cure or effective treatment for PSC—but with your support, we can help change that.
PSC Support plays a critical role in the lives of people like me, providing information and advocacy for better healthcare and psychological support. Importantly, they also fund groundbreaking research, driving us closer to the possibility of a cure. Despite advances in research over the past decade, PSC remains poorly understood. But with more funding and awareness, we can bring hope to those who desperately need treatment options.
My PSC Journey
I was diagnosed with PSC in 2013 when I was just 12 years old. My diagnosis came as a shock—my symptoms were subtle, and it took multiple visits to doctors and hospitals before we found the cause. It wasn’t until a liver function test revealed elevated results that we finally identified PSC.
At the time, the diagnosis didn’t affect me as much as you might think. I was still playing outside and living life as any kid would. But it was hard for my parents, learning that their child had a chronic liver disease. The support from PSC Support and amazing medical teams helped us feel less alone in this journey.
How PSC Affects Me
PSC does impact my life, but I’ve learned not to let it define me. Itching, fatigue, and jaundice are part of my day-to-day, and I’ve had serious setbacks—like a 10-day hospital stay in 2022 due to bacterial cholangitis, which was a low point for me. Despite that, I’ve become determined to live life on my terms. Working out and running have become essential to my routine, and I refuse to let PSC stop me from achieving my goals.
The toughest part is dealing with jaundice, which affects my confidence, especially when meeting new people. But I’ve learned to accept that this is part of who I am and something I can’t control.
Why I’m Fundraising
Living with PSC has shown me firsthand the need for better support, research, and treatment options. I’m running this marathon not just for myself, but for everyone living with this condition. By raising funds for PSC Support, I hope to help push research forward and bring us closer to a cure.
Every donation, no matter the size, helps make a difference. Thank you for supporting me and PSC Support in the fight against this life-changing disease. Together, we can create hope for a brighter future.
Every penny counts.
#LetsBeatPSC
Thank you!
