The Director of Pain Association Scotland has set herself the challenge of running The Lurig Challenge Run in Northern Ireland.

Not being a runner herself and never having done anything like this before, she has been in training and not being content with taking part, has set herself the additional pressure of completing the run within 1 hour!!

The Association's main focus is to help the significant numbers of people (18.1% Scottish Adult population) who suffer from the debilitating effects of chronic pain irrespective of diagnosis; by introducing them to and quickly enabling them to apply self-management strategies and coping skills.

Chronic pain has a high impact upon, physical, psychological and family health. Significant issues include: depression, long term stress, isolation, high levels of medication, poor mobility, lack of self-esteem and fatigue.

The Association addresses the non-medical issues associated with chronic pain and the nature of our interface between healthcare, family and community means that innovating new ways of working is a significant feature of our service. We have 25 years’ experience of working with this population of people, clinicians, social workers, carers, friends and employers. This has enabled the Association to pioneer and develop a highly interactive training and support model which is adaptable to the needs in the different geographical areas we serve throughout Scotland. Chronic pain requires significant help and time in both clinical and non-clinical settings and patients use primary care services five times more than any other condition.