Hello,

My name is Emily and I’m running the London Marathon to raise money for The MASIC Foundation, the only UK charity dedicated to supporting women who have experienced severe perineal birth injuries, known as Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries (OASI), including 3rd and 4th degree tears.

As a pelvic health physiotherapist, I work closely with women who are living with the long-term consequences of these injuries. Through my work, I have seen first-hand how deeply birth trauma can affect every part of someone’s life, not only physically, but emotionally and socially as well.

OASI injuries are more common than many people realise. The average incidence in the UK is around 3.1%, rising to 4.5% in first births, and increasing further to 6.9% following assisted deliveries. This means that approximately 1 in 20 first-time mothers are affected.

The long-term impact can be life-changing. Many women experience ongoing pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary or bowel incontinence, prolapse, sexual dysfunction, chronic pain, and significant psychological distress. These consequences can affect mental health, relationships, employment, confidence, and everyday activities. Many women also experience anxiety, postnatal depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, difficulties bonding with their babies, and fear of future childbirth.

Sadly, many women suffer in silence due to stigma, shame, and a lack of awareness. Support is often difficult to access, and there remains a major gap in multidisciplinary care within the NHS to meet the complex needs of women recovering from severe birth injury.

That is why MASIC’s work is so vital. As a small charity, the MASIC Foundation receives no statutory funding and can only continue to do this vital work with donations from the public. MASIC relies entirely on public donations to continue supporting the hundreds of women who contact them each year, expand peer support networks, raise awareness, and campaign for better prevention and care.

Every penny will help them support the hundreds of women who contact them each year, continue to roll out their peer-to-peer regional support groups, and campaign for better care and prevention.

If you want to know more about the amazing work that MASIC do, then take a look at their women's stories page - https://masic.org.uk/womens-stories/

Thank you so much for your support.