Story
This May I’m walking 150 miles for £150, to raise awareness for Axial Spondyloarthritis / Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). 🥾
I was officially diagnosed in March this year with Axial Spondyloarthritis / Ankylosing Spondylitis, after years of trying to get answers.
I’m 26 with arthritis, not quite what I had in mind 🦴
AS / AxSpa is a painful, progressive disease that affects my spine, sacroiliac joints and ribcage — causing stiffness, fatigue and fusing of the bones. I’ve had to step back from things I love like teaching drama and hiking mountains.
February this year I had my worst flare to date, leaving me unable to walk or get out of bed without being in immense pain.
Now, with physio and ongoing treatment, I’m focused on something much smaller, but just as important:
being able to move, and enjoy walking again. 💪
So the challenge isn’t about being perfect, it about showing up, on the good days and the hard ones.
I’ll be aiming for 150 miles across May for the ‘Walking my AS off’ challenge. ✨
If you’d like to donate or support, I’d really appreciate it 💜
Thank you,
Emaleigh x
Join my Strava Club - https://strava.app.link/RelUVVv4K2b