Sam Broad has been based at Dartmouth Police station since 2001 as both a Special Constable and latterly as a PCSO.

She revealed, “I’ve loved my time there but am having to be medically redeployed to a non uniformed role due to the effects of suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

“May is IBD awareness month, and I am volunteering as Marshall at the ‘Walk It’ charity event in Plymouth on Saturday May 6th.

“The 5k, 10k and half marathon is being run by IBD charity Crohns and Colitis UK.

“It is a national event to raise awareness of IBD, of which Crohns and Colitis are the 2 main forms.

“IBD is an auto immune disease which causes permanent damage to the digestive system and colon, including inflammation and ulceration.

“IBD affects 300, 000 people in the UK but is a largely hidden and misunderstood illness which causes sufferer’s to feel stigma, fear and isolation. IBD not only causes damage to the digestive system, but to the eyes, skin and joints.

“There is no cure, and although some sufferer’s have periods of remission, many others do not. The disease can result in sufferer’s needing surgery to remove the bowel, and in some cases can be fatal.

“Crohns and Colitis UK aim to raise vital funds to assist with research to help find a cure for an illness that is difficult to diagnose and hard to treat effectively.”

The ‘Walk It’ event will be at The Hoe, Plymouth and sets off at 10.30am.

The event village opens at 9.30am. For more details and sponsorship forms visit www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk.