Even the Rochdale drizzle couldn’t rain on our parade when it came to supporting the borough’s first-ever Pride gathering and Parade.
But while we met with everyone from MPs to drag queens and strutted our stuff to Lady Gaga, we also provided some serious support and advice to endo warriors and their families.
Read a full report of how we helped create, “memorable, magical moments” by visiting our Endo Diaries page - https://endometriosisawarenessnorth.com/endo-diaries
Boys from a Bury school are believed to be the first male students in Britain to learn about a condition that cripples the physical and mental health – of women.
Endometriosis is a debilitating and painful gynaecological condition that limits the lives of sufferers, causing around a third to have “dark thoughts.”
But despite blighting one in ten women of childbearing age, awareness of the condition is poor. Which is why charity Endometriosis Awareness North visited the Derby High School and made sure boys attended, too!
“Students male and female could not even pronounce or spell the word when we first talked to them, which just goes to show how little societal notice is taken of endo” said our founder Dr Anita Sharma. “Despite being a condition that affects women and some in our trans population, we stressed just how important it was to be aware – since you might have a family member with endo or find yourself caring for someone hamstrung by the condition.”
Aside from information on endo from Dr Sharma, the Year Seven to Nine students – aged 11 to 14 – also heard a deeply personal account of living with endo from charity ambassador and former Metrolink worker, Siobhan Kennett.
Said Siobhan: “Occasionally we received a few giggles, but it was also pleasantly surprising that the majority of the students from both genders that we spoke to were and seemed really positively engaged with us. They showed a genuine, mature interest and were equally responsive about female menstrual health and what we had to say. This was incredible and filled us with so much optimism and hope for the future to be able to make a positive difference in this area.”
Siobhan shared how endo left her feeling isolated and allied to a skin condition, rendered her unable to work for two years. She also believes that doctors “gaslighted” her – forcing her to think she was suffering from stress. But her partner James showed the other side of the male psyche by paying for her to have the exploratory surgery that finally revealed her endo.
“One of the biggest triggers for a dip in mental health is that people don’t believe women when they say they have endo” continued Dr Sharma. “Some are told they are too young or too old, or that it is a normal part of their menstrual cycle. It is not. What a shame they face this battle as well as the waring physical torment of endo.”
Fellow charity founder Pete Gibson was delighted boys in Bury became trailblazers – as he went to school and college there! He said: “By becoming endo aware, men and women can understand sufferers better, make informed decisions in the workplace or at school and join with us in helping to reduce diagnosis times and find a cure. In fact, fellas can become a woman with endo’s greatest ally!”
Pupils from the Derby High School were also invited to a fundraising walk on the 6th of July in nearby Oldham, to help support sufferers and their families.
Learn more about this at: https://endometriosisawarenessnorth.com/upcoming-events
Read Siobhan’s Endo Diaries by going to https://endometriosisawarenessnorth.com/endo-diaries
Click onto our brand new movie, detailing what Endometriosis Awareness North is all about Endometriosis Awareness North - YouTube
Featuring our treasured case study Courtney, it also gives medics a platform to call for quicker diagnosis of endometriosis.
With thanks to filmmakers Andrea Bertozzi and Pete Gibson Media.
Endometriosis Awareness North
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