Manchester United star Darren Fletcher speaks about living with the bowel condition Ulcerative Colitis

Darren Fletcher has spoken for the first time about living with the illness Ulcerative Colitis.

The Manchester United star now hopes to raise awareness of the bowel condition and raise money for research into finding a cure.

Today he talked about the bowel disease that threatened to end his football career.

Darren coped with the painful condition alongside a demanding training schedule.

Back on the pitch after surgery that made the illness managable, today he helped launch United for Colitis, a charity to raise money for research.

He says his experiences have already helped others.

For more information, visit http://www.unitedforcolitis.co.uk/