About Us
Our Mission: To Drag Hidradenitis Suppurativa Into the Spotlight and Give YOUR Story a Voice
A World Where No One Suffers in Silence
Our vision is a world where every person living with Hidradenitis Suppurativa is seen, heard, and supported. For too long, we have been a hidden community, failed by systems that don’t understand our disease or our pain. Living Life With HS was born from a simple, powerful belief: we deserve better. We are not just a website; we are a patient-led campaign, a community, and a resource dedicated to fighting for the support, advocacy, and awareness that the hundreds of thousands of HS sufferers in the UK deserve.
Our Three Strategic Pillars
Our mission is built on three core actions. Every project we undertake, from this website to our future podcast, falls under one of these pillars as we fight to change the landscape for HS patients in the UK.
The Road Ahead: Our Future Projects
This website is just the beginning. Our mission to support, advocate, and raise awareness is ongoing and we are building a formidable force. Here are the next key projects we are developing to amplify our community’s voice and force real change.
The “Living Life With HS” Podcast
A long-form interview platform to amplify the unfiltered voices of other HS warriors, creating a library of shared experiences and expert insights from the real trenches of this disease.
The Definitive HS Documentary
A full-length, ‘warts and all’ documentary that will show the raw, day-to-day reality of living with HS in the UK, following real patients and their doctors to expose the full human impact of this condition.
Community Meet-Ups & Events
Moving beyond the screen to create real-world, safe, and supportive in-person meet-ups for HS warriors. A chance to connect, share, and find strength in our shared fight, face-to-face.
If you would like to contribute to the mission, you can make a donation by clicking the button below, thank you.
The Book That Started the Fight
The cornerstone of this entire campaign is the memoir, ‘A 21st Century Boydult: Wounds, Grit, Global Gallivanting…And HS’. It’s not just my story; it’s the unfiltered, no-nonsense account of a twenty-year war that kickstarted this mission. It’s the proof that you can live a life of adventure and dark humour, even when your body is against you. The success of this book is the campaign’s success, funding the expansion of this website and our future projects.
About the Book: A 21st Century Boydult
This isn’t your typical medical memoir. There’s no spiritual enlightenment or heart-warming tale of triumph. It’s a pint-in-hand, warts-and-all account of life in the trenches. It’s a story forged in the chaos of cruise ships, the surreal beauty of Russia, the soul-crushing despair of the NHS, and the relentless, daily grind of just trying to be a decent dad when you feel like you’re broken. It’s about pain, shame, and resilience. It’s about travel, love, and family. It’s a book about living life to the max, or trying to, in spite of chronic illness. It’s written in my voice—blunt, honest, and unapologetically Yorkshire.
Get a Taste of the Fight: Read a Free Sample
Don’t just take my word for it. Download a free PDF sample of the book and dive headfirst into the story. The sample includes the Prologue, the infamous first chapter (“Do Not Disturb: Englishman Dying On Floor”), and the whole of Part 1 (“Conscription”). It’s the perfect introduction to the madness. You can read or download the sample below.
Buy the Book, Join the Campaign
This book is the cornerstone of my campaign to drag HS into the spotlight. Every copy sold isn’t just a book on a shelf; it’s a vote for awareness, a middle finger to the silence, and a contribution to a mission that is bigger than just me. It helps fund this website and the future projects, like the podcast, that will give a voice to more warriors in our community.
If you want the full, unvarnished story, you can buy the paperback or Kindle edition on Amazon now.
About the Founder, Gareth Marshall
I’m Gareth, the bloke who kickstarted this whole thing. By trade, I’m a Yorkshireman who accidentally became a globetrotter, a casino croupier who stumbled into teaching, and, most importantly, a father.
By accident, and thanks to a treacherous immune system, I’m also a twenty-year veteran of the HS trenches. I’m not a doctor, but I am an unapologetic expert in my own story, and a connoisseur of the dark humour required to survive.
I built this platform because it’s what I needed but couldn’t find: a central hub for no-nonsense information, practical guidance, and genuine community support, all delivered without the clinical jargon.
My story is the spark, but this campaign is the fire. I’m not just telling my tale; I’m building an army of warriors to tell theirs. Thank you for being here. It means the world.
Disclaimer: The Living Life With HS website and the views displayed on it are not those of a medical professional. The information and stories on this website are based on personal experience(s) and are for informational and community support purposes only. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.