Raising awareness of a rare disease is never easy. Everyone knows someone affected by stroke, cancer or dementia, and we've all heard of the big charities that do fantastic work to help people with these conditions. But until someone you know is diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, CIDP, or one of the associated inflammatory neuropathies, chances are you've never heard of it before.

That's where GAIN comes in, providing information and support when it is needed most. It's really important that people know there is help available if they have been recently-diagnosed with GBS or CIDP. And that's where you come in.

What will YOUR challenge be?

Because May is GBS/CIDP awareness month, we want you to get active and spread the word. Run, walk, cycle, row, jump, stretch, roll, swim, dance or skip - it's your call! You might decide to climb a mountain one flight of stairs at a time, do the Couch to 5K challenge, or row the Channel using a rowing machine. Just set yourself a personal goal, making sure it's challenging but realistic, to avoid getting bored or disheartened.

If you like a bit of competition, or find that recording your daily activity using an app helps motivate you and keeps you focused, download Strava and join the GAINmomentum Club! However you do it, and whatever your goal, count your steps, track your distance or keep a note of how many minutes you are active on each day throughout May, then sit back and bask in a sense of achievement.

Don't forget to tell everyone what you're doing and why. Set up your own fundraising page linked to the GAINmomentum 2021 campaign, and spread the word amongst family and friends. Their donations will help spur you on to reach your fitness challenge, at the same time supporting a cause that means so much to you. Just click on the big orange Start Fundraising button towards the top right of the page, and get on board! Once you've set your page up, you can go back and personalise it with your own words and images.

GBS/CIDP are rare conditions, and not many people have heard of them, until they are affected themselves. If you would like some leaflets or information cards to take along to your local hospital or surgery, please get in touch by email on office@gaincharity.org.uk or by phone during office hours on 01529 469910.