My diagnosis meant my life expectancy was 30 but now I'm the fittest I've ever been

Connor Sinclair-Smith was just six months old when he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Throughout his life feeling unwell was something he had to deal with. He would be in and out of hospital appointments, but he never let this hold him back.

Now, Connor, 30, from Huyton, has set out to create awareness of the disease by setting himself a number of challenges to raise money for charity. Connor told the ECHO: “I was six months old when I was diagnosed so I've never known any different really.

“I had to grow up and deal with it. I had times when I was unwell and in and out of hospital when I was younger, but that was normal to me. I was always just another kid playing out, playing football with my friends, it didn't really hold me back and I've carried that on throughout my teens and adulthood.”

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Connor sets himself a new challenge to fundraise money for people suffering with cystic fibrosis every year. He said: “I try to raise some money every year for charity. The challenges get bigger every year and this year I set myself ten challenges in ten months.

“I’ve done triathlons, mountain challenges, the Yorkshire three peaks, Welsh 3,000s, 10k runs, and half marathons. I have one challenge out of my ten left, which will be happening next month and I’ll be doing a 20-mile trail run in December.”

He added: “I do it because it's an extra push for me to do these things that I love and change what people think about having this illness or any condition. I want to prove to people that just because you have CF you can still do all these things that other people do.”

Connor has worked particularly closely with Leah’s Friends of CF, a charity that supported him during his early adult life. He said: “I was nominated by a girl who I grew up with through the hospital, sadly she has passed away now, but she nominated me for a grant from Leah’s Friends of CF.

“Stephen [the founder of Leah’s Friends of CF] came and gave me a cheque and that is why I like raising them. That was seven years ago now and since then I have tried to raise something for them every year since 2019. We've probably raised about £12,500 over the last few years for them, which is huge because they’re such a small charity.”

Connor says being able to do these challenges is “massive” for someone who suffers from cystic fibrosis. He said: “Growing up with cystic fibrosis has just been normal, but the challenges I set have paid off with my health. I haven't had any infections for a good few years, so all these things I’m doing are paying off.

“Turning 30 was a big thing for me because people who are diagnosed with CF, their life expectancy is 30, so now being this age and being as fit as I am, that is very special. I’m proud of myself for getting to this stage.”

You can donate to Connor's Just Giving page, here.