'The Big Hug¹ and local display

'The Big Hug¹ and local display

This year Endometriosis New Zealand is asking women to give themselves a hug.

To celebrate its 25th birthday the organization is launching ‘The Big Hug’ campaign during Endometriosis Awareness Month in March.

Endometriosis affects around one in ten women and girls in New Zealand. It often causes painful symptoms, usually associated with the menstrual period and it sometimes affects fertility.

Endometriosis is not life threatening, but Nelson Region Endometriosis support group coordinator, Helen Hills says it can make life miserable and cause serious physical and emotional suffering for many women.

“Endometriosis can be a very isolating disease, which some women struggle with for years,” she says. “Because the treatment options can be quite bewildering, we find the most practical support comes from women coming together to share experiences.”

Helen says the local group has helped hundreds of local women since it was formed in 2003 and is always seeing new people at its bi-monthly meetings.

“We get enquiries from mothers - and fathers - of young women who have recently been diagnosed, women having fertility issues, and women who may have been suffering for years but have only recently had a diagnosis and are looking for more information about the disease.”

To mark Endometriosis Awareness Month, the Nelson support group has a display in the Richmond Mall on Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 March. Group members will be there to hand out brochures and talk about the disease, and the support available to sufferers. There will also be gluten free cupcakes, iced in the group’s colour, lilac, available at the stand.

For more information on The Big Hug fundraiser, and the chance to win a 2009 SmartCar go to www.nzendo.co.nz.

The next Nelson support group meeting is on Tues 30 March at National Party Headquarters upstairs hall, 544 Waimea Road, at 7.30pm. The guest speaker will be Simon Alexander, Pharmacist at Unichem Richmond Mall, speaking about medications associated with endometriosis and pain management.

Gold coin donation.

ENDS