Welcome to my NYC Marathon fundraising page!!! Thanks for your
interest in supporting me as I raise money for the Endometriosis Foundation
of America.
What is Endometriosis? Endometriosis is a condition
that affects roughly 200 million reproductive aged people worldwide, yet
despite its prevalence not much is known about its cause, and there is no known
cure. This condition occurs when uterine (endometrial) tissue is found outside
of the uterus. This abnormal tissue growth can cause painful periods, lead to
painful sex, change bowel/bladder habits, affect people’s mood, and increase
rates of infertility. As you can see, this condition can affect people in all
areas of their lives. With early diagnosis and effective treatment (including
pelvic health physical therapy), relief is possible.
Why Team EndoStrong? I chose to support the
Endometriosis Foundation of America for a couple of reasons. 1. When I was
younger, I did not really know what endometriosis was - all I knew was that I
hated it because it made my strong older sister curl up in pain every time her
period came. I felt powerless because I couldn’t help her. After countless doctor’s
appointments and eventual surgery, my sister was able to find some relief. I
want everyone with endo to have the same relief and that starts with bringing
awareness to this condition. The EndoFound works to educate the public on this issue. 2. If you have been following my last year of
physical therapy school, you may have seen my newfound interest in pelvic
health! Many of the patients I saw in the clinic had endometriosis and they had
a similar experience of immense pain with their period as well as painful
intercourse and bowel/bladder changes. While a lot of these changes were
successfully addressed with pelvic floor physical therapy, proper treatment
requires a knowledgeable team of medical professionals. From what my patients
reported, it seemed like a lot of their doctors did not know how to help them.
Women’s health has often been ignored in medical training (I had 1 lecture on
it in physical therapy school) and that has perpetuated this idea that women’s
issues are not important, when in reality women (or people with vaginas) account
for half of the population. Let’s change that by educating the future of
medicine with the Endometriosis Foundation of America!
How can you help? If you are able, please support this great cause! All funds will go directly to the Endometriosis Foundation. Any amount is greatly appreciated; no donation is too small.
No worries if you are unable to donate at this time – sharing this page with your friends/family as well
as educating the people around you about endometriosis is just as beneficial! Thanks for joining me on this journey to help those with endometriosis and run 26.2 miles!
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions J Thank you! – Savanna
