Hello everyone!

As part of the #Fit4Fertility Campaign being headed by Fertility Network UK throughout the month of October, I thought I would get involved and show my support for an amazing charity.

They have been super helpful to me and Hayley since we started our journey down the route of IVF last year. Their useful help & advice provides much needed support for people like us who have found themselves in the the world of infertility.

I picked up running again at the end of August 2022, and since then I've slowly but surely been aiming to increase my fitness and set new records for myself. It's also been a great way for me to take my mind off things and distract myself, as going through infertility definitely has its emotional baggage too.

As a way of me getting #Fit4Fertility, I've set myself the "Fifty for Fertility" Challenge. The aim is to run a target of 50 miles in October. This will consist of 2 smaller runs during the week, and a longer one at the weekend.

I may be doing this challenge for Fertility Network UK, but on a personal level I am also doing it in support of every single person who is struggling with infertility at this moment in time.

I am logging my progress on Strava, and you can view all my activity by clicking here or by scrolling to the bottom of this page.

https://www.strava.com/athletes/davidswailes

In June 2020 we were diagnosed with male factor infertility, and told that the only way we could start a family would be through IVF, but more specifically a type of treatment called "ICSI".

Being told this was a real crushing experience for both of us, as having been together since the age of 15 we've always spoken about our plans with regards to starting a family.

Since our initial diagnosis we have had multiple rounds of IVF, procedures, injections and consultations with private specialists.

Our clinic is Care Fertility (Northampton), and they have been so professional & compassionate the whole time that we've been with them, and we couldn't recommend them enough.

I'm a firm believer that infertility should not be a taboo subject, and the more people speaking about it the better. This is why we opened up about it in the first place - to normalise the situation & support friends or strangers who are in the same situation as us.

Thank you for reading this far, and I'd love for you to support me during my challenge this month!

David

A bit of information about Fertility Network UK..

Fertility Network UK provides free and impartial support, advice, information and understanding for anyone affected by fertility issues.

We are the nation’s leading patient-focused fertility charity and are here on a practical and emotional level whatever your experience of fertility issues to offer support services, information and access to a community of people affected by fertility problems.

We can help: if you are considering your future fertility; if you are trying to become parents; if you are facing the challenges of childlessness; if you are successful after fertility problems and if you need help to access NHS-funded fertility treatment.

We are a small charity working hard to help the 3.5 million people affected by the devastation and pain fertility issues wreak. We do not receive any guaranteed funding and rely on grants and the generosity of our supporters.

Donate today to help support the work we do.