Hi

My name is Rebecca Owen and I founded a not for profit organisation, Don’t Carry It Alone in 2021 to support those living with chronic illness, inspired by my own personal battle with Endometriosis.

Don’t Carry It Alone is designed to empower individuals from all around the world to speak up about their struggles and share their experiences.

My vision for Don’t Carry It Alone is simple: to get people talking about chronic conditions.

Talking raises awareness, assists with the often long road to diagnosis and most importantly, makes us feel less alone. I am particularly passionate about raising awareness in the workplace.

As mentioned above, my passion in this space is fuelled by own journey with Endometriosis.

I can’t remember a life without symptoms including chronic pain, flare ups, brain fog, fatigue. I also can’t remember a life without having to accept unpredictability and no cure. I was diagnosed with Endometriosis soon after I finished my law degree, but I had struggled with those symptoms for many years before my diagnosis and had been told that it was ‘just period pain’ and to ‘pop a few paracetamol’.

I have had multiple surgeries over the past 12 years. Since my last surgery in November 2022, I have been able to manage my endometriosis and live a relatively normal life..! I am acutely aware that this won’t last forever and therefore I am determined to make the most of it.

That leads me to the next part… I am incredibly lucky to have secured a place in the London Marathon through my run club (Freck & Warton Running Club) The London Marathon is on Sunday 21st April, which means I have 16 weeks to train!

As I won the place through my run club, I do not need to raise a certain amount for a charity. A number of people who know what I do with Don’t Carry It Alone have suggested that I fundraise for that!

**PLEASE NOTE: Don’t Carry It Alone is currently an unregistered not-for-profit organisation. We are currently navigating the process to be registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) but as you can imagine, it is an expensive and lengthy process.

I also currently fund the web hosting and any other associated costs with keeping the support group going. In October 2023, I secured two corporate sponsors for a launch event in London and there is now an appetite for further events and resources. This can only happen with donations and sponsors.

In 2024, I have plans to launch a global Don’t Carry It Alone podcast and plans for further in-person events.

Any and all donations will be used, for no other purpose than maintaining and growing the Don’t Carry It Alone movement.

www.dontcarryitalone.co.uk