Endometriosis walk supported by Jamie Stone and local health campaigner Ron Gunn

The local Endo March event held at John O'Groats on Saturday was well supported and helped raise awareness of endometriosis.

Between 30-40 people attended the walk at the weekend which was organised through the Endometriosis UK North Highland Support Group which was set up just over a year ago and now has over 145 members.

Kirsteen Campbell, who started the group in January 2021 and has now gone on to work with Endometriosis UK, said: "Saturday was fantastic. It was brilliant to get outdoors and raise some awareness about endometriosis and some money for Endometriosis UK.

"It was really lovely to meet some of our warriors. We were delighted that Jamie Stone MP and council candidate Ron Gunn joined us. The sun even came out."

Organiser of the walk Rebecca Wymer said: "It was really good, we had a nice bright, sunny day. We raised £400 in donations and raffle sales – the Bank of Scotland in Wick has doubled our funds from £400 to £800.

"I think people were just pleased to have an actual event – everyone was delighted it was going ahead to raise awareness of endometriosis. A few people did not know the Facebook group existed."

Lots of generous raffle donations were received from local businesses as well as individuals, with all the money raised going towards Endometriosis UK.

Mr Stone said: "It was an honour to join campaigners at the Endo March at John O'Groats to raise awareness of such an important issue. I commend Kirsteen, Rebecca and everyone else in the North Highlands who has pushed so hard to make women's health provision a priority for our government, particularly for women in rural areas such as Caithness and Sutherland. I support them all the way."

Ron Gunn, chairman of Caithness Health Action Team, said: "I was delighted to go along as one of the CHAT representatives showing our support for Kirsteen and Rebecca and to help raise the profile of a condition that affects so many women."

The local walk was the most northerly event held in the UK during Endo March – an event that takes place worldwide during the month to raise awareness of the condition which is believed to affect one in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK.

Related article: Endo March at John O'Groats aims to raise profile of endometriosis

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