For the past 6 years we have held our Walking to Awareness Campaign leading up to International Fibromyalgia Day on May 12th. We ask our support group members, family and friends to post their weekly steps to collectively reach each years target. This year, we have a huge total to reach of 3243.58 miles.

Included in this years campaign is a special challenge by super woman Jo Briggs, coordinator of the Age UK Derby and Derbyshire: Strictly no Falling project who is hot off her latest expedition; climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. She has had no time to rest as she is straight into training for the Manchester Marathon on April 16th. She will be posting her training and marathon steps to help us reach our target from Friday March 31st.

Our Small Steps to Health tai chi and qigong classes are listed under the Strictly no Falling project. The classes are open to the community and the income from these classes help sustain our Fibro Active support group sessions. These sessions help sufferers of Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME and Long Covid learn about their symptoms and how to manage them with a bespoke programme of tai chi, qigong, emotional support and educational and theraputic workshops. Most importantly, bringing members out of isolation to become part of a welcoming and supportive family.

However, with the cost of living crisis, many people are unable to afford extras like our Small Steps to Health classes which could be vital to their health and wellbeing. So we want to raise enough money to be able to fund as many people as possible and take away the financial barrier to becoming active.

Our classes are inclusive to all abilities and help improve strength, flexibility and confidence. In turn reducing pain and stiffness and the risk of trips and falls.

Lets get behind Jo and everyone posting their steps who are going above and beyond to help raise awareness of our unpredicatble and debilitating chronic illnesses, and to help others in the community who need that extra help to acess activities to improve their health and wellbeing.

Did you know that taking part in regular tai chi classes can reduce your risk of trips and falls by up to 1/3!

Thank you for reading our story. Please show your appreciation and support our cause. You can find more information on our website or join us on Facebook.

Jo starts her run at 11am. She is just off to the start line. Please give what you can to help us support vulnerable members of the community who are at risk of trips and falls. Thank you))

Congratulations to Jo Briggs, who ran her first full marathon in Manchester last Sunday. Please show your support. She has had a tough training regeime after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in January.

2017 figures showed that it cost Derbyshire NHS £49 million just to treat people who have fallen. Our classes can help reduce the risk by 1/3. Everyone is at risk of trips and falls. Please help someone during this cost of living crisis access our classes to improve their strength, balance and confidence.