Throughout September, with a baby in tow, and come rain or shine, I will be walking 100 miles. 

I’m fundraising to support the amazing work that Verity, The Polycystic Ovaries Self Help Group do. It would be great if you could donate and share my Page so I can raise as much as possible to help them continue their amazing work. I have been a Volunteer and local group leader for Lancashire Verity PCOS for 7 years and would like to do this as another way to show my support.

This is a cause that is close to my heart as I have been a PCOS sufferer for over 15 years. It’s taken me this long to overcome the embarrassment and insecurity the symptoms have caused me and to accept that although PCOS is treatable, it cannot be cured.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is the name given to a condition where a woman has small cysts usually no bigger than 8 millimetres each,
located just below the surface of the ovaries. These cysts are egg-containing follicles that have not developed properly due to a number of hormonal abnormalities. 

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 5–10% of women in the UK and millions worldwide. It can run in families and is one of the leading causes of fertility problems in women. If not managed properly, this condition can lead to additional health problems later in life. PCOS can also affect a woman’s appearance which in turn can affect a woman’s confidence and self-esteem. 

The condition has long-term health implications to as there is an increased risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.

 Being diagnosed at the age of 17, this seemed to be a lot for me to take in. I wish I’d have known about the work of Verity then to reassure me that the symptoms were treatable instead of keeping it bottled up and letting it eat away at my confidence. This is why I have chosen to help out this charity, so that I can give support to girls who are going through a similar experience as I did.

 My biggest fear from the day I was diagnosed still remains, which is the reason I looked for this support group in the first place. I am worried about infertility and fertility problems in the future, like many other women with PCOS. It’s fantastic to read the inspiring stories
as case studies of ladies who have been in my shoes. It takes the edge of the  negative thoughts I have and gives me lots of hope, which, I’d like to start to share with other people who need it.

Verity is a self-help group for women withn PCOS). The group was established in 1997 to share the truth about the condition and improve the lives of women living with PCOS. The charity is run by a dedicated board of trustees, a team of volunteers and thousands of women in the UK and internationally. 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.