Living in the Grey: life is not black or white, nor are you….(let our true colours shine through)

Thank you for visiting my team (meaning raising money for several charities under one campaign) fundraising page. I'm raising money for several charities that have helped me over recent years and continue to support me with the ultimate goal of my campaign: to raise awareness of unseen/invisible disabilities nationwide and to work towards having a universally recognised symbol that those with unseen/invisible disabilities can choose to wear so that they may also be understood in public.

As someone with unseen disabilities, I face a daily challenge of managing not just at home but out in the world. I am aware that life with unseen disabilities isn't black and/or white, no one can see them and you aren't just your disability... life with unseen disabilities is about living in the grey in so many ways.

How, you may very well ask , will I raise awareness...well it's a big task and rather than get stuck on trying to achieve the ultimate goal (above and repeated below) on my own...which is too big a task for any one person, let alone one with an acquired brain injury and crohns, I've decided that perhaps starting a social media campaign may just be the water and sunshine needed to start the roots growing... I'm doing this by going back to my roots...yes that's right, I have decided to let the grey hair grow out...yikes...and to chart my progress along the way on social media ...yikes again...until my hair is completely its natural colour - grey (and lots of pepper too!). Making the invisible (grey hair usually covered by dye), visible....a metaphor for, well, unseen disabilities... 

The aim here is to raise awareness of unseen disabilities. To get a discourse going. I hope that all charities and movements of all unseen/visible disabilities unite somehow to start educating the public and employers about invisible disabilities. To work towards having a universally recognised symbol that those with unseen/invisible disabilities can choose to wear so that they may also be understood in public. Not to suffer, go without or be judged. 

I've not set up a target (though somehow the page sets one up on its own!) this is going to be an ongoing event.  Your donation will really help these great charities continue to do the excellent work they do AND your interest will keep me going during the tough part of growing out my grey when I will want to run and hide (or dye my hair) ....the hairdresser said it will take around 12 months...yikes and yikes and yikes.  

What would be wonderful, is if some of you take up the challenge too, raising awareness of living in the grey.  Maybe by growing out your own roots to who you naturally are, or unveiling to the world something that you hide away...a talent or skill maybe...and at the same time raise money for your chosen charities that support those with unseen disabilities.  Maybe, just maybe, we can come together to form a team that can take this whole campaign national! Who knows?! Im just taking one little step, so come walk along side me...

Our voices are louder together let's shout!

I'll post regular photos and updates of my journey on Twitter @millionflowers, Instagram and Facebook (Living in the Grey).

"You are not just your disability...you are more, what is your more?" Myrian.

Thank you.

This page is for the Encephalitis Society, a charity dedicated to making the world aware of encephalitis, saving lives and building better futures for those affected by this invisible disability. By donating via this page you will be helping to provide support and information, raise awareness, and promote research.