On Sunday 19th November I will be running the 2023 Brighton 10K for Pain Concern who have helped my wonderful friend Vicki manage her chronic pain. Fundraising helps Pain Concern to continue the work they do, ensuring the services and support they offer remain available.

This is Vicki's story:

"I have been a big fan of the work Pain Concern do since hearing about them from my local pain clinic back in 2016, where their magazine Pain Matters was available. I have subscribed to the Pain Matters magazine since then and will continue to be a regular reader. It is a great way to keep up to date with pain news and to hear from people with lived experience of pain. It makes the pain journey less lonely knowing that you are not going through it alone.

Pain clinics and charities like Pain Concern have helped turn my life around. Before this, I saw chronic pain as a very negative aspect of my life that effected nearly all areas of my life (socially, financially, emotionally, and so on, as well as the physical pain itself). The pain consumed me. Learning self-management tools has put a different perspective on things. I no longer see pain as part of my identity and don’t feel like it controls my daily life anymore. For example, I now regularly attend Aquafit classes which I never thought I would do. I also started volunteering with Pain Concern a couple of years ago and was over the moon when they offered me a job in April.

Whilst I still struggle with pain at times, I’ve accepted this is okay and continue to use the self-management tools, such as self-compassion. I think it is so important to raise awareness of charities like Pain Concern, so people know that there is help available. Having supportive friends around you also helps - thank you Liz!"

Please help support this charity to continue helping others like Vicki by sponsoring me ❤️ 💙