My name is Lisa, I am 39 years young, a wife, mother, Nanna and work full time. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in March 2018. Not knowing much about the condition I hit the laptop and found 1000’s of stories, support groups and links for help and assistance in tacking day to day life! For reference, Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread muscle pain and tenderness. It is often accompanied by fatigue, altered sleep, cognitive disturbance and emotional distress. It usually develops in middle adulthood and affects more women than men.

In my situation I find the more stressed I get the more I ache and the fatigue is unbelievable. But with a mortgage and bills to pay, I have little choice but to make the best I can of each day! Positivity is definitely a must to alleviate some of the daily struggle.

More recently with the pandemic and personal circumstances I have found myself in a rut! In constant pain, exhausted from just putting the washing on, and I’m in bed most nights before 9pm! Then my sister and our friend Wendi (a fellow fibro sufferer) invited me to join them running/swimming and to get fit. I have to say I was VERY wary due to being so unfit, the thought of additional pain from exercise scared me! WOW was I wrong… walks, gentle jogging and swimming has been tough but sooooo rewarding not just for my fibro but mental health. I never considered “low” moods would be classed as mental health but it is all part and parcel of Fibromyalgia! I feel energised, positive, sleeping better and in slightly LESS PAIN!! I know this isn’t a cure and far from the answer for everyone as all afflictions are different, but for me this is working and I feel great for the first time in years!

I have always looked at certain events/activities and thought “I can’t do that”! But I am throwing caution to the wind and going for it!  So we have signed up to The Wolf Run at Stanford Hall, Leicestershire on 5th June!! YES!! JUNE!! We have 3 weeks!!….. My sister Kelly Mills, Wendi Goodman and I are running the 5K, Wendi's son Rhys Prosser and my son Charlie Ganley are taking part in the Youths 3K!!! 

I wish for any supporters to send sponsorship/donations to Fibromyalgia UK (just giving link below). On a personal note, I would like to thank my colleagues, namely Jane Storer my Operations Director for all the guidance and support over the years, all of my family and friends but most importantly my sister Kelly Mills. She is an amazing sibling, friend and has given so much support to me over the years, even more so recently. She is incredible, encouraging me and pushing me out of my comfort zone in so many ways, she is a mental health first aider and I could not be more proud and grateful that she is MY SISTER!

See you at the back of the Wolf Pack!!!!