My Story

1.5 million girls and women in the UK have endometriosis which is almost 190 million women and girls globally. Recognised by multiple sources as one of the most excruciatingly painful conditions on record, Endometriosis is a whole body inflammatory disease. It’s chronic, severely under researched and underfunded with no known cure.

1 in 10 women and girls worldwide have endometriosis but it takes on average 8-10 years to be diagnosed, with staggering delays of up to 27 years in the UK (researchers at the University of York found). 

Currently the only definitive way to diagnose endometriosis is via laparoscopy surgery which is expensive, invasive and the waiting list is HUGE. This can leave sufferers unemployable, infertile and desperate and many resign themselves to years of relentless pain without knowing the cause.

Research is absolutely crucial to stop this silent epidemic and help future generations with this devastating disease. Only 2.1% of public and charity funded research is spent on Reproductive Health and Childbirth in the UK even though 1 in 3 women in the UK will suffer from a reproductive or gynaecological health problem. 

4 laparoscopies, 1 miscarriage and 1 hysterectomy later, I am determined to help those with this life wrecking condition.

So running the London marathon for the first time seemed the perfect way to do this! I have also never run a marathon = 26.2 miles. EEK.

All the money I raise will go to a brilliant charity called Wellbeing of Women who have funded 1.29 million pounds into Endometriosis research and more than £75 million in vital research across all areas of women's reproductive and gynaecological health. They are also the only UK charity working across all of women's gynaecological and reproductive health.

Thank you for reading this and any support you can give will really help to spur me on! 

Anna X