I was diagnosed with Endometriosis at 20 after a year of being in and out of hospital with the worst pain imaginable. I thought I was dying. It was the hardest time in my life, being in excruciating pain, falling behind at university, being admitted to hospital nearly every month but never getting any answers. I felt so alone and gaslit that once I received my diagnosis I decided to start sharing my story online to see if anyone else had the awful experiences I was living through.

Turns out, they had.

Sadly, Endometriosis affects around 1 in 10 women and people assigned female at birth. It's common yet there's still so little awareness and understanding. So little research, support, funding. We have no cure and treatments are limited.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb forms in other places. It was on the NHS list of the 20 most painful conditions, it can cause fused organs, infertility, unimaginable pain, problems with the bowel, bladder, lungs, the list goes on.

In 2024 I joined the board of trustees for Endo Buddies, an incredible charity supporting people with Endometriosis in England. It's a charity I wish I had known about when I was first ill because they provide so much incredible support through their surgery care packages, community support hubs and their mental health partnership with SHOUT.

So here's my challenge...

In 2020 I could barely walk more than 1km. Some days I couldn't even walk around our flat. In October 2026 I will be running a half-marathon. Not only for myself, to prove to myself that I can overcome this enormous challenge, but for every single person with Endometriosis. For every person who has ever felt dismissed, lost, like there is no way out of the Endometriosis cycle.

I am raising money for Endo Buddies so we can support more people going through surgery, diagnosis, and just trying to live with this incurable condition.

Please, if you can donate do. I know times are tough so even just a share will make a real difference to people who are going through something so life-altering.

Thank you for supporting me and this cause, it means the world to me.

I will keep you all posted on how my training goes (the furthest I have run so far is 6km, lord help me ha!). I will give this my absolute all, I can promise you that.

Soph x