Lads,

It’s #InternationalWomensDay and there’s something we really need to support our ladies with… 

Imagine once a month, for a week or so, you menstruate from your old chap… sounds painful right? 

Then, imagine the cells in your balls also reacting the same way to your menstruation, causing more bleeding through your old chap because there’s no other way for the blood to escape…

Sounds incredibly painful right?

Well… 1 in 10 of our precious ladies in the UK go through this excruciating pain on a daily basis. Yes, 1 in 10 – which means it’s incredibly likely that you know somebody who has Endometriosis.

Endometriosis (pronounced en- doh – mee – tree – oh – sis) is the name given to the condition where cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body.

During the menstrual cycle, the body goes through hormonal changes each month. Hormones are naturally released which cause the lining of the womb to increase in preparation for a fertilized egg.  If pregnancy does not occur, this lining will break down and bleed – this is then released from the body as a period. 

In endometriosis, cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb grow elsewhere in the body. These cells react to the menstrual cycle each month and also bleed. However, there is no way for this blood to leave the body. This can cause inflammation, pain and the formation of scar tissue.

Endometriosis can have a significant impact on a person's life in a number of ways, including:

- Fatigue/lack of energy

- Chronic Pain

- Depression/Isolation

- An inability to conceive

- Problems with a couple’s sex life/relationships

- Difficulty in fulfilling work and social commitments

However, with the right endometriosis treatment, many of these issues can be addressed, and the symptoms of endometriosis made more manageable.

It’s important to remember that:

- Endometriosis is not contagious

- Endometriosis is not an infection

- Endometriosis is not cancer

#TeamEndo receive minimal funding for the work they do and are financed almost entirely through fundraising, donations and annual subscriptions. 

So, on Saturday 20th August 2022, I have decided to take on a marathon kayak! 26.2 miles from Godalming to Hampton Court along the River Wey with my mate, Dave Trendall, who will be raising money for Men’s Cancer. 

If you have any spare funds to help us raise money and awareness for this under-funded, severe condition, we would be eternally grateful.

Thank you x