Hi, my name is Natalia. I am personally raising funds and helping you understand why raising awareness and support for Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction (RCPD) is so crucial. RCPD is a condition where the cricopharyngeus muscle, located in the throat, can't relax properly. This prevents affected individuals from burping, leading to uncomfortable and often painful symptoms like bloating, gurgling noises in the chest and throat, abdominal pain, nausea and even difficulty breathing. It significantly impacts quality of life, making everyday activities difficult and embarrassing. RCPD is often misdiagnosed for heartburn or indigestion and the medication given would be completely useless or in turn affect us even more. For myself personally, I had went to my GP for two years trying to figure out what was causing my issues until I had to go research about my symptoms myself, which is when I figured out I had Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction (RCPD). Since then I have always struggled with my physical appearance as RCPD has always caused me to feel awful about myself as anytime I would eat, I’d get bloated and get made fun of and feel embarrassed. Just because of this condition, I’ve found it hard to leave my home and go out to social events, school, or just meet my family for dinner. Anytime I would go out with family or friends I would always feel awkward sitting there while others around me ate what they wanted. I would constantly get questioned if I had an eating disorder or if I’m just looking for attention, but the truth is, it’s very hard for anyone with RCPD to eat anything and I’d always go into so much pain just a few minutes after. I tried explaining the condition I had but honestly, people only made fun of me which made me very insecure about my body. Funds raised for RCPD are vital for supporting research into better diagnostic methods and treatment options, as well as providing resources for those living with the condition to access the specialised care they need to help them live a better life.