Hi, my name is Hannah, and this March — Endometriosis Awareness Month — I will be swimming 34km (the distance of the English Channel) to raise money for Endometriosis UK.

In July 2025, I was diagnosed with endometriosis via laparoscopy (keyhole surgery). This followed 7 years of daily suffering and pain, 2 misdiagnosis', and a long fight to be taken seriously.

In some ways, I was fortunate. Many women wait 7–10+ years for a diagnosis. But reflecting on the years I lost to pain, confusion, and self-blame made me realise how urgently women’s health needs more attention, research, and advocacy.

As I delved deeper into the reality of women's health, I uncovered how years of underfunding and under-research has engendered significant knowledge gaps, lack of effective treatments, and diagnostic delays. All of which perpetuate suffering and increased pain intensity and sensitivity.

I decided I wanted to be part of the movement to reform women's health policy.

So, I applied for an MSc in Global Women's Health at Oxford University, and got in! From September, I'll spend 2 years studying a broad range of women's health conditions, and learning how to advocate for more effective clinical guidelines and care pathways on a global scale.

But, I didn't want to wait until September to make a difference.

Given my background in competitive swimming, I decided that throughout March I will swim 34km — the distance of the English Channel — to raise awareness and funds for Endometriosis UK. Every donation will go directly to supporting education, advocacy, and vital resources for those affected by endometriosis.

This challenge is about more than just fundraising. I want to:

As a Personal Trainer, helping women improve their health, confidence, and quality of life, even in the face of chronic illness, is something I feel very passionate about.

So, why should you sponsor me?

Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women worldwide. It is a chronic, often debilitating condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it, causing inflammation, adhesions, severe pain, and life-altering symptoms. There is currently no cure, and treatment options remain limited.

This March, we may not change global policy overnight, but we can start conversations, raise awareness, and push women’s health higher up the agenda.

The world is a chaotic place, particularly at the moment. In an age of information overload, surveillance, international instability, and rising costs, women's health just seems to get pushed aside.

Now is the time to stand up for something critical. Stand with me, stand for yourself, your mums, your daughters, your wives, your grandmothers, and for the millions of women living with endometriosis.

Help me turn pain into purpose.

Sponsor the swim. Share the message. Start the conversation.

Stand for women’s health with me this March.

#SwimForEndo

If you would like to learn more about endometriosis, women’s health, or follow my journey, visit my blog: https://physicelitefitness.com/