Fibromyalgia is a recognised chronic condition of widespread pain and profound fatigue. A common illness with an est. prevalence of 2.9% - 4.7%. The pain tends to be felt as diffuse aching or burning, often described as head to toe. It may be worse at some times than at others and may also change location, usually becoming more severe in parts of the body that are used most. Add. symptoms often include: unrefreshing sleep, headaches, irritable bowel, cognitive disturbances, clumsiness, dizziness, allergies, sensitivity to environmental changes

My Story

I first started to get symptoms when I was 16, chronic migraine, sickness and lots of left shoulder pain/ sore neck to the point I could hardly bare to touch it and I was hunched over. Over the next couple years my symptoms worsened, chronic sickness, subsequent weight loss, chronic fatigue, IBS all of which stopped me from studying and I spent 6 months of my second year at university at home in bed or in hospital. Every scan every test came back clear, every consultant/ department said I was normal but my debilitating pain continued.

I left university with a First Class Honours Degree and a Masters
by Research degree and then threw myself into my Sales career.. which was soaring….then on Thursday 28th June 2018 
I woke up in agony and I couldn't move...  my back went into spasm for 12 weeks. I was unable to walk, drive, see my horse, work.. in 24 hours I had lost control of my body. It was terrifying and endless the weeks were turning into months. I made the hardest decision to leave my career behind.

I was enrolled on a pain programme which enabled me to start
to rebuild my physical and mental strength. I struggled with the diagnosis at the beginning and with that my mental health. No cure was a tough pill to swallow at 24 years old... just learning to accept it and rebuild my life from scratch, living with the devil that is Fibro. I felt it took away my identity and changed the way people treated me.

After 3 years in recovery. 3 years of dedication every day
to psychology, nutrition, physiotherapy meticulously managing every aspect of my day to day life – sleep patterns, diet, water, exercise, work, rest. I am proud to say I have rebuilt my career and have my dream job as a Research and Development Manager, something I never thought would be possible, my company are so supportive of my health and enable me to keep chasing my dreams! I sold my flat
and bought a new house 😊 another dream which is yet to sink in.

Every day I am in pain yes, all over my body, but with the right
coping strategies in place I can keep that pain to a tolerable level. I get
scared that it will happen again and I will lose everything but with everyday that passes I know I get that tiny bit stronger. I am delighted to say Fibro is the monster that comes to tea but it no longer controls my life.

So why a half marathon...?

At one stage I never thought I would walk again, never
regain any independence.. I never know what tomorrow will bring or if and when a flare up will happen and yes they are inevitable. Ever since I got the freedom of my legs back I have tried to make the most of them. Running has helped both my physical and mental health throughout my recovery.

Following my Half Marathon in 2019 I suffered a knee injury
which nearly had me under the knife with a major op! Thanks to the hard work of my amazing physio I am now getting ready to smash out a sub 2hr Half at Windsor this September.

I want to raise awareness, vital funds and encourage those
people with pain that through hard work and a positive mind set you can put your mind above the pain and make progress. Bed bound to half marathon in 365 days was my biggest achievement, living life in the fast lane is what has kept me alive!

To each and every person living with an invisible condition
that controls their lives, I run for you.

Thank you for reading my story xxxx