We are walking the world to raise money and awareness about #Endo, a debilitating condition affecting #1in9 women making it as common as asthma or diabetes. Endo is a debilitating painful condition with no cure. It is estimated to cost the Australian economy $9.4 Billion a year and the individual about $30,000. The dollar signs don't fully explain the ripple effect that constant pelvic pain has on a person's life. As a collective we are going to walk the 40,075 km needed to walk around the world. We are walking to spread the message that PERIOD PAIN THAT INTERFERES WITH YOUR LIFE ISN'T NORMAL and needs medical attention. We are also walking for the 800,000 women and people who have Endo in Australia and have endured an average of 6.4 years in diagnosis delay. We are walking to say we SEE YOU, and we BELIEVE you.

I have battled an anxiety disorder and gastrointestinal problems for the past 3 years, which I struggled for a diagnosis and went through probably all the tests you can think of, including ultrasounds, pathology, CT scans and a gastroscopy procedure. My physical symptoms ranged from headaches to nausea and abdominal aches and pains and because of this I also developed a fear of food. I often had no appetite and limited the amount I ate as I had anxiety around feeling sick or becoming sick. It was so bad I lost 10kg in just a few months. It seemed my health was declining rapidly whilst going through year 12 and covid.

In this time I also started developing random unexplained pelvic pain and was constantly told it was my stomach issues and anxiety. I have ended up in emergency at least 3 times with the same sudden servere pain, each time being told they want to send me home with no tests done as they didn't think it was "anything serious". I was luckily able to see a gynecologist in March 2022 to get a different opinion and hopefully some answers. I was clinically diagnosed with endometriosis. I was straight away booked in to have a laparoscopy (key hole surgery) to remove 2 cysts found through ultrasounds. While in surgery it was worse than expected as I had 3 ovarian cysts and 1 cyst on my fallopian tube. They also found endo tissue on my pelvic wall, both ovaries and behind my uterus. My surgery ended up being a 2.5 hour operation. The only way to be 100% diagnosed with endometriosis is through surgery and biopsy. I am incredibly grateful that I was able to have this done as many women and girls don't have access to these resources.

Although I have a diagnosis and am on a treatment plan I still struggle from day to day. I finally feel as though my chronic pain and discomfort is validated and actually has a reason and it is not "all in my head". Although I have had surgery to remove my current endo and am managing my anxiety, stomach symptoms, and endo it will mostly likely grow back. This is incredibly scary for anyone and causes overwhelming emotions. This fundraising page is to create awareness for Endometriosis, as it is much more than a reproductive illness as it affects the entire body including mental health. It has been the hardest few years of my life but I am so grateful for my support network as I truly have the most loving family and friends which I appreciate so much as they make everyday just a little bit easier to get through.