“I wish I’d known the pain is real, even if you can’t see it”, says Jonathan, who is running for his partner, Jodi, who lives with endometriosis, and waited several years to get a diagnosis.
Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women in the UK - and it currently takes on average nearly 9 years in the UK to get a diagnosis. Jonathan is running to raise awareness, break down barriers in talking about endometriosis, and to highlight the importance of everyone knowing and learning about the disease. He said “When partners don’t understand, women can end up facing endometriosis alone. There’s so much about endometriosis I wish I’d known before meeting my partner, and I want to raise awareness so that nobody faces this condition alone, and to highlight the importance of everyone knowing what endometriosis is, how it can impact people, and what support is available”.
Faye Farthing, Head of Communications at Endometriosis UK added: “Endometriosis is a condition that can impact every aspect of someone’s life, including their relationships. It’s incredibly important that those with endometriosis can rely on their partner for support, which is why it's so important that everyone understands what endometriosis is and its impact. We’re incredibly grateful to Jonathan for taking on this epic challenge and for raising vital awareness of endometriosis and its impact; and supporting our calls for improved education so that everyone recognises the signs, symptoms and impact of endometriosis”.
If you’d like to follow Jonathan’s run, you can follow his journey via social media @jonnygalbraith
Check out our interview with Jonathan below:
Tell us about the challenge and what inspired it.
I’m attempting a world-record run from Buckingham Palace to Edinburgh Castle - over 400 miles on foot, in nine days. I only started competitive running this year, but the sport has shown me how powerful movement can be. Almost anyone can put on a pair of shoes and run.
The challenge is inspired by my partner, who lives with endometriosis. Watching her navigate something invisible and unpredictable made me want to do something visible and loud. This run is about awareness: if sharing our story helps even one person get diagnosed earlier, it’s worth every mile. My partner has been lucky enough to access surgery, after 10 years of misdiagnosis and delays. But that doesn’t mean it’s gone - it can grow back.
Why is it important for partners to be aware of endometriosis and its impact?
Because when partners don’t understand, women might end up going through it alone.
Endometriosis affects energy, plans, intimacy, mood, work, everything. When partners learn about it, they start to notice the subtle shifts: the bad days, the “just getting through it” days, and the good days!
What impact has endometriosis had on your life?
It’s taught me to show up differently.
Instead of feeling helpless, I started learning, reading about symptoms, pain management, nutrition, sleep, stress. I’ve realised the most supportive thing I can do isn’t to fix anything, but to be present. Sometimes that means cooking a comforting meal on rough days. Sometimes it means planning around low-energy days. Sometimes it means taking a chilled day rather than making plans.
What do you wish you’d known about endometriosis?
That it affects 1 in 10 women and yet somehow so few people talk about it. I wish I’d known that surgery isn't a cure, and that the pain is real even if you can’t see it.
What message would you send to other partners?
Your job isn’t to fix anything, just to be there. Ask questions. Talk openly about periods. Don’t make it a taboo topic.
And support in simple, everyday ways:
- cook a comforting meal on a bad day
- plan around their energy, not yours
- celebrate the good days when they come
Small actions build a sense of safety.
Thank you Jonathan for your support.
You can follow along with Jonathan's challenge via his social media.
