The Cumbria Support Group was created in December 2019 to provide a safe space for people whose lives have been affected by endometriosis to support each other on their journeys.
I had stage 4 deep infiltrating endometriosis and type 1 adenomyosis at the time, and I set the meetings up so people could attend in person and virtually. This was to get round transportation issues due to living in such a vast, rural county. It also enabled people who didn't feel well enough to attend in person, to participate from the comfort of their own home.
The group met in Windermere for the first few months, then moved online during COVID times. We now have two meeting places: one in the south Lakes (Kendal) and one in the north Lakes (Keswick). Gemma joined three years later as co-leader of the group.
We love to get involved in activities as a group and over the years, we've invited different specialists to give talks and demonstrations on pelvic health, pain, myofascial release, restorative yoga, nutrition, sex and embodiment, resilience and creative writing. We've also been on nature walks and done open water swimming surrounded by breathtaking landscapes.
On Tuesday 6th June 2023, five members of the Cumbria Support Group set off just after 6pm on our second forage walk.
We were privileged to have one of our longest-standing members who is an expert forager, Rebecca, guiding us again as she did with such passion in June 2022. Her in-depth knowledge of plants is truly amazing. Having suffered with endometriosis for many years, Rebecca found plants a source of great comfort, encouragement and inspiration which is the reason why she wanted to share some of her favourite ones with us.
Rebecca explained that wild flowers, often now rejected as weeds, have been used for centuries and are reputed to have various uses.
It was a sunny evening near Windermere and we had a lovely stroll along a country lane, sharing our concerns about and experiences with endometriosis and adenomyosis, stopping to look at and pick various wildflowers and plants along the way.
We are all very grateful to Rebecca for her time and for the six years she has put into studying our beautiful natural environment in the Lake District.
Thank you Elaine (on the far right in the selfie photo) for sharing an insight into the Cumbria Group. To find your local group, please visit our support groups page here.
