Charity team trek from Southampton to Gunwharf Quays to raise funds and awareness of endometriosis on the South Coast

A team of walkers from Endometriosis South Coast were decked out in yellow charity t-shirts and glitter as they took on the challenge.

They hoped to raise awareness and funds for endometriosis, a gynaecological disorder causing pain, inflammation and heavy bleeding.

Kicking off from Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton at 9am Saturday morning and travelling via QA in Cosham, the socially distanced walk ended in Gunwharf Quays at around 10pm last night.

They were greeted by the sight of the Spinnaker Tower, which was lit up in yellow, the colour for endometriosis awareness month.

The walk was organised by charity founder Jodie Hughes, 36, from Havant, who has lived with the condition since she was 11.

She said: ‘We wanted to raise awareness of endometriosis because statistics tell us there are 10,000 people in Portsmouth that could potentially have it.’

Jodie was joined by fellow charity trustee Robyn Gentle, 30, a nurse from Portsmouth, and Mel Slama-Hardy, another trustee from the city.

Portsmouth yoga teacher and charity trustee Krystle Issitt, 37, also took part in the trek, as did Steff Moore, 30, a primary teacher and a trustee.

Steff, from Chichester, is between surgeries for endometriosis having been diagnosed in 2019 after 15 years of ‘unexplained’ pain.

They were joined in Cosham by Z Khan, a gynaecology consultant at QA with the endometriosis team.

So far the walk has raised more than £1,800 of its £2,000 goal.

Visit crowdfunder.co.uk/endosouthcoast to donate or endometriosissouthcoast.com for more information about the charity.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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