Mark and Spero walked 100km 3 years ago to raise money and awareness for Fibromyalgia Action UK because I was diagnosed with the condition 1 year prior to that. It is hard to believe that I have been battling with fibro for 4 years now, it has completely changed my life.

Simple daily tasks such as getting out of bed, having a shower, even using cutlery at times seem impossible because of the pain or paralysis when my body says 'no more'. Living with the fear that if I attempt stairs I might fall down them again when my legs give way, or that if my children want a cuddle I have to think twice in case it hurts too much that I'll cry out on pain.

This 4 years has been a journey of praying for healing, whilst trying to work out what treatment works for me in the meantime. Learning how food affects my pain, how to balance opioid and neuro combination drugs with exercise and managing any stressful situations or the winter months which immediately cause huge flare ups.

Then there was a pandemic on top of it all! All pain management clinics and NHS based support stopped, and I have had to find my own way through.

Part of this was to 'eat cleanly' and have a kick start course of rejuvadetox with Health Angel's in Bexley which helped so very much with the pain. I followed this up with a strict diet and exercise regime, using a HIT training app focusing on what is realistically possible within my busy working/family life and with some sheer determination and grit!

I am a long way off my fitness goals, but am ready to challenge myself in a whole new way. I want to be a person with Fibromyalgia who does not let the condition stop her life, which up until now is exactly how it has felt. My son, daughter and husband are all fit and sporty, and I want to be able to be part of their world, not just a spectator who sits in pain on the sidelines.

So this year, with my amazing husband Mark, and good friend Spero holding me up (hopefully not physically) I will be attempting to complete a 102km walk with Ultra Challenge over two days at the end of July to raise funds for FMAUK. This charity have helped with providing advice and support for many Fibro sufferers across the UK as well as raising awareness of this debilitating condition.

I am also doing this for everyone who has Fibro, whilst I am fortunate enough to have found a combination and balance that is working for me, fibromyalgia continues to be simply debilitating and horrific for so many sufferers. I want it so research, support charities and medical professionals understand it enough to help all fibro sufferers to find that their condition does not have to rule their lives. 

With love, support, discipline, and with God who strengthens me and is my ultimate Champion I can still achieve anything, even walk 102km! I am sure this seems ridiculous especially for people who know me and the physical challenges I face daily, but I want to try. No regrets. Fibromyalgia is part of me, but it does not and will never define me.

Please, if you would like to sponsor us, then click on the link, and an enormous thank you to every single one of you. 

I will also be posting training updates on facebook, the good with the bad, so the reality of this challenge comes through! Let's do this!

Fibromyalgia is a recognised chronic condition of widespread pain and profound fatigue. A common illness with an est. prevalence of 2.9% - 4.7%. The pain tends to be felt as diffuse aching or burning, often described as head to toe. It may be worse at some times than at others and may also change location, usually becoming more severe in parts of the body that are used most. Add. symptoms often include: unrefreshing sleep, headaches, irritable bowel, cognitive disturbances, clumsiness, dizziness, allergies, sensitivity to environmental changes.