We are taking part in the Astriid Challenge to raise vital funds for Astriid. Our team is made up of a number of us who manage long term health conditions or support those who do, and we have all met (virtually of course) through the charity Astriid.   We would like to highlight the challenges that still exist in the workplace for those managing chronic health conditions and raise awareness of the incredible talent pool of individuals who are currently underrepresented in the UK workforce. 

The conditions we manage as a group include, PoTS, ME, Endometriosis & Osteopenia  and a major brain injury resulting in the loss of 25% of the brain. 

Due to medical conditions, exercise can be a big challenge for us, so we have all set individual challenges within a team goal to complete during the month of July. We will all be individually completing a Marathon in a way we are able too to come together to cover the distance of 301KMS to contribute to Astriid's overall goal of travelling one lap of the globe by the end of July. 

We believe the value of work goes far beyond than only the wages paid. In the right environment, we know that meaningful work can radically improve a person’s quality of life. The employment and recruitment sector urgently needs to become more inclusive for those with long-term health conditions, and here at Astriid, we’re doing everything in our power to facilitate this change.

By supporting our Astriid Challenge you will not only raise awareness of our cause, but also raise funds that enable our team to continue supporting individuals and campaigning for change. In particular, funds raised through this challenge will be used to:

- Increase flexible training and reskilling opportunities for our candidates

- Support our bespoke programme for individuals returning to work after ill-health absence

- Raise awareness of the Invisible Talent Pool and support our research, lobbying and advocacy efforts

Thank you,

Astriid Dream Team 2021