Help Ashton raise money

I am excited to be participating in The Endo Network’s Run to End Endo fundraising event for the third year in a row! 🎗️✨

As someone who suffers from this chronic and debilitating disease, fundraising for this organization and raising awareness is very important to me and I am asking for your help.

So what is Endometriosis? Endometriosis is estimated to affect 1 in 10 reproductive age women and unmeasured numbers of transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary individuals. It occurs when tissue similar to the endometrium, which is tissue that lines the uterus and sheds each month during the menstrual cycle, implants abnormally outside of the uterus in the pelvic cavity to form lesions, cysts, nodules and other growths. These growths have been found on every pelvic organ and surface including ligaments, bladder, ovaries, tubes, uterus, ureters, bowel, and other peritoneal (intra-abdominal) surfaces.

More rarely, endometriosis has been found on the lung, diaphragm, nasal cavity and other locations throughout the body. Hormones that trigger the endometrium to bleed each month also stimulate the inappropriately placed tissues. This can cause pain, internal scarring, formation of adhesions (bands of scar tissue that can connect organs inappropriately), infertility and other medical complications. For each patient with endometriosis, the specific locations of the endometriosis lesions are different, giving rise to a disease that can present uniquely in different patients and it can be absolutely debilitating. (Ref: https://www.runtoendendo.com/about) 

There is no known cause or cure for endometriosis. Often times it takes many years of suffering before one receives an accurate diagnosis, which can only be confirmed through surgery. This is due to lack of funding from the government for research and resources, a lack of knowledge and awareness in the medical community, as well as a lack of awareness in society as a whole. Unfortunately, this is partly to do with the stigma that still surrounds menstruation. 

So I ask you to please consider joining me in raising awareness and fighting for a cure. Participation in this event directly helps expand support, educational and wellness resources for all who are affected by endometriosis; reduce current barriers to diagnosis for patients through the raising of informed awareness; and build a community of hope.

Since my diagnosis in early 2019, it has been incredible to see how much the Endo community has grown. Events like The Endo Network’s Run to End Endo are helping to reach more people and spread more vital awareness and build and strengthen this community. The Endo Network’s Run to End Endo has seen an average annual increase of 23% in funds raised which is amazing! 

If you’re interested in participating in the virtual walk/run event, I welcome you to join my team “Endo’s No Friendo”!

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported my team the last two years. With your support, we were able to surpass our initial fundraising goals which was absolutely incredible! Your support truly means so much💛

Last year, I was given the opportunity to be interviewed by The Endo Network which you can find here: https://www.runtoendendo.com/2022/#ashton-golding

🎗️🎗️🎗️