2017 Walk Recap!

On March 25, 2017, we had our Endometriosis Awareness Walk here in San Diego, California. It was a beautiful day, the weather was perfect, and the ocean was glorious! We walked the shores of Shelter Island.

All in all, we had 77 registered walkers (oh how we’ve grown in three years!), plus a few non-walkers there to show support to their loved ones. We raised $1,857.42 for 2017 and it was all donated to the Endometriosis Foundation of America! Of that $76.67 was from t-shirt sales, $115.75 was from the San Diego Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence fundraisers, $250 was from the Element Wellness Center fundraiser, and $1,415 was from Gofundme donations! Also, one of our walkers, Allison, raised an additional $135 for the E.F.A. with her own gofundme fundraiser! Thank you EVERYONE!

Before the walk began, I wanted to say a few words. Video courtesy of Richard T. Reyes:

(If you can’t hear passed my sniffles, I’ll type the speech out below):

“Endometriosis is often misunderstood by friends, family, and unfortunately our doctors.
We walk today, together with thousands of women around the world, to show support to one another and spread awareness in our communities. Raise your hand if you have Endo – look around you. We are NOT alone in this fight. Get to know and trust your EndoSisters; support one another. To the friends and family who walk today, thank you for your patience, your love, your understanding, and your desire to learn with us. Our journeys are made easier with you by our sides.
We are not weak. Or crazy. We are STRONG and relentless Warriors! We are an army of 176 million!! I am One in Ten.”

To me, these events are not only to raise awareness, but to show and receive support from those who understand exactly what we are going through! That could be fellow EndoSisters, friends, and family. And this year roughly half of our attendees had Endometriosis, which meant the other half was their support system! PURELY FANTASTIC! Photographs have been submitted by various attendees (and used with their permission) and will be posted at the end of this blog entry 🙂

A huge THANK YOU to my husband, James, for providing security; Marie for being our resident medical staff; Timbrely for running check-in; my Mum for all of her help; and to everyone who helped tear down the event. And thank you for the Endometriosis Foundation of America and the Endometriosis Research Center for providing brochures that we could pass out!

Plans for next year are already underway. If you’re in the SoCal or San Diego area, save the date: March 24, 2018. And, as always, if you’re in the SoCal area, please feel free to join our private Facebook group or attend one of our monthly support group meetings! We need to be there for each other more than one day a year. ❤

This year we also gave away awareness bracelets. In order to get one, though, our walkers had to write out their thoughts, opinions, or questions about Endometriosis:

Endometriosis Thoughts, Opinions, and Questions by our Walkers

Interested in learning more about natural remedies (diet/exercise) to help with infertility.
I wish that I knew about this org when I was in treatment back in 2010.
How is that German Shepherd doing? Endo is MOOP.
Endo took me from an active 19 year old to a girl who never works out or has the energy to go on outdoor adventures anymore! I miss the old me!
Endo pain is not period pain! It is debilitating and chronic. Sometimes, most times, pain meds don’t work!
How many women suffer from Endometriosis?
Very few people know the affects of Endo.
Shocked that I hadn’t heard of it sooner considering how prevalent it is.
I have had “Endo attacks” in job interviews, on airplanes, on dates. It knows no limits, it is ruthless and it can be so isolating. More research! More funding! ❤
What percent of women are affected by Endo? It’s mind-boggling how little is known about Endo, by the medical community or the general public. 😦
Do I have Endo? I need to get checked. I only have a period every 3-4 months with a lot of pain.
Endometriosis isn’t a well-known disease.
Heat will be your best friend. 🙂
Does food actually help with flare-ups? Or just help not as bad?
Endo can attack many different parts of the body, not just the “female parts.”
I’m concerned about doctors being able to diagnose without invasive procedures. Like, why not have an MRI just before a period, when the tissues could be large and visible?
Fact: Family support helps those that suffer.
I want to do a demo on Endo. Groups of girls showing every 1 in 10 women have Endo. Volunteer 100 people at Balboa Park, showing a large circle, 10 people out of 100 break the circle and move into the center showing people how many.
I hate seeing my sister in pain – makes me ANGRY!
EndoBelly! How to make it go away?
I hope they can find a cure for Endo in my lifetime.
It’s really hard watching what these girls go through daily.
Endo has no cure!
What is longest someone has had Endo? If known.
Endo affects 1 in 10 women. This is not a statistic. This is an epidemic!
I’m walking for my dear friend, Mirna. She has been through so much. Thank the Lord God for her wellness. ❤ 🙂
It’s so beautiful to see all these WARRIORS! Pain brought us together, but strength will get us through the future. ❤
Love to all of my sisters who fight for peace every day! YOU ARE WORTH IT!
Endo affects 176 million women worldwide.
Did you know symptoms of Endo can include other diseases like Celiac disease and Anemia? Skin breakouts? Crohn’s disease?
There is not enough awareness for an illness that affects so many lives.
Prayers for all Endo sufferers for a pain free walk/day.
Endometriosis. Fact: Takes an emotional toll on the spouse also.
#endopower

Once again, thank you to everyone who donated attended our walk, and helped! That day, and every day, is all about support and awareness. It would be nothing without you.

Love, Lisa

Photographs!