Lorraine Williams

[p]25th May is International Thyroid Awareness Day.[/p][p]I was diagnosed with autoimmune hypothyroidism, Hashimoto's Disease, in 2009. [/p][p]Ten+ years later, I now run a charity for people affected by thyroid disease, The Thyroid Trust. [/p][p]I had a truly horrific time with my illness for around 18 months and it's continued to affect me, to a lesser extent, ever since. I had dementia like symptoms, which was the scariest thing I have ever experienced, I also had crippling fatigue (which I sometimes still experience), hair loss, weird rashes, facial swelling and other symptoms, too many to list. I had to give up my job. If it wasn't for my lovely husband, I dread to think what would have become of me, seriously. [/p][p]It is a chronic condition which can be very debilitating. It runs in my family but I knew next to nothing about it until I was diagnosed, because thyroid disease is very seldom talked about. [/p][p]Over the years, through organising support and information events, awareness raising and advocacy initiatives, I've met enough fellow patients to realise that there are a lot of people with thyroid conditions who are still really suffering, either because they do not have the information and support they need to be able to manage their condition effectively, or in some cases because treatment options that could help them are being withheld due to unclear guidelines and poor cost management of old generic medicines. Unfortunately the NHS simply has often not prioritised these patients' health. The Thyroid Trust has helped take a leading role in addressing this unfair situation and we are making progress. [/p][p]Thyroid disease can ruin lives. It should be much higher profile, standards of care and access to treatment options should be higher and more consistent across the UK. There are a ton of issues, don't let me bore you with it. I don't want to be a thyroid bore. [/p][p]But basically, The Thyroid Trust is still a very new and small charity and if it doesn't raise more money over the next few months it might not be able to survive, which would be awful. [/p][p]So, thinking I might raise some smiles during these dark lockdown days, I will use my permitted exercise hour, from midday to 1pm on 25th May, to dress up extremely foolishly and brightly, to the best of my ability, as a 50 something woman with thyroid disease. I will emulate a butterfly, because the thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland and that is the best hook we could come up with for raising awareness of thyroid diasease, and I will run through the streets of my home town, no doubt attracting some funny looks and hopefully also raising a few quids. [/p][p]I'm going to do a route round Broadstairs that spells out THYROID: Thanet Road, Harbour Street, York Gate, Rectory Road, Oscar Road, (the usual location of the iconic Broadstairs) Inflatable Giraffe (although it's not there at the moment), Dumpton Gap Beach. [/p][p]Victoria Stone and Sam Stokes are also running a 10K round the Isle, to benefit the charity on the same day, they will be adding the funds they raise to this page so our total raised will be combined. Thank you Victoria and Sam! [/p][p][br][/p][p] [/p]