The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™ 2022
Top Three Individual Fundraisers
Featured on this page are interviews with:
Alexis Nikolich, Run Director of The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™ had the opportunity to speak to the top fundraisers of the 2022 event about the reasoning behind their impactful participation, their inspiration to fundraise, and their hopes for endo care in the future.
Brooke McClelland (she/her)
Photo credit: Brooke McClelland (she/her)
Toronto, Ontario
Funds raised in 2022: $4,017.21
Alexis Nikolich (AN): What does the run mean to you?
Brooke McClelland (BM): This run means a lot to me. Last year I had two major surgeries related to endometriosis with challenging recoveries, so I am proud that I was even able to get out there and run this year. I love running, and before surgery the physical and mental pain of this disease made it very difficult to not only function, let alone run. This run showed me how far I have come since surgery while creating a platform for me to share my story in order to raise much needed endometriosis awareness and funds. I really want to use my experience to help others and make a change, so that no one will share the same difficult experience I had in the future.
AN: What was a highlight for you participating in this year’s event?
BM: The highlight for me was the unexpected support I got from family and friends. Endometriosis is a very challenging disease to navigate and even harder during a pandemic. Sometimes it can be very lonely and having support from family and friends really means the world to me. I am thrilled I was able to achieve 400% of my fundraising goal!
AN: As someone navigating endometriosis in Canada, what are your hopes for future awareness events like The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™?
BM: I really hope there will be more events like The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™ in the future. This is the only event I know of so far to get involved and raise awareness and funds for endometriosis in Canada. I hope one day there will be events for endometriosis that have grown in such a scale that they will have to shut down major streets to accommodate participation. To me, larger attendance means more awareness and more funds raised to find a cure.
Brooke is grateful to live, work and gather on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
Erin Ball (she/her)
Photo credit: Erin Ball (she/her)
Team Leader of Horrendo-metriosis
Waterloo, Ontario
Funds raised in 2022: $3,583.14
Total funds raised: $5,763.44
Alexis Nikolich (AN): As someone who has been a top individual fundraiser for The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™ two years in a row, with your team Horrendo-metriosis also being a top team fundraiser in 2022, what advice would you share with others on how to encourage participation from their friends and family?
Erin Ball (EB): My personal approach to fundraising is rooted in honesty. Prior to my first time participating in The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™, a very limited number of people in my extended circle knew that I have endometriosis (“endo”). I now use this event as an opportunity to talk about endo to anyone who will listen. The run is a wonderful opportunity to share both my own experience and information about endometriosis. Being open about my experience helps communicate the importance of raising funds and awareness for this terrible condition. I am incredibly fortunate to have a generous and caring network of friends and family; I could not do this without their support.
AN: What changes and year-to-year growth have you observed while participating in this awareness event?
EB: It has been exciting to see the growth and development of The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™ over the years - more people participating, leading to more awareness and funds raised. I am so thankful to The Endometriosis Network Canada (TENC) for their endless hours planning these events, especially while navigating a global pandemic – starting as an in-person event, shifting to entirely virtual, and then offering the hybrid option this year.
AN: What motivates you to continue to fundraise for The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™?
EB: Like countless others, endometriosis has had a very negative impact on my life; at times making it hard to see the hope and positivity that can simultaneously exist while living with this condition. It was through TENC that I found this supportive and welcoming community. They motivate me to continue to fundraise for a decreased time to diagnosis, improved access to a variety of treatments, skilled endometriosis specialists – but most importantly, to give hope to this community that so desperately deserves some. I fundraise so that, someday, a person who walks into their doctor’s office with pelvic pain is not simply told that it’s “normal”.
Erin is grateful to live, work, and gather on the land traditionally cared for by the Haudenosaunee, Anishnaabe and Neutral Peoples.
Graham Brown (he/him)
Photo credit: Graham Brown
Boston, Massachusetts (formerly Toronto, Ontario)
Funds raised in 2022: $1,522.89
Alexis Nikolich (AN): What does the run mean to you?
Graham Brown (GB): As someone who has a partner affected by endometriosis, the run was a way for me to show my support for her and for the cause of endometriosis awareness in general. It was a cathartic experience as well because her struggles with endometriosis were very much top of mind. Over the last few years, she's been through a lot with the condition: from doctors not knowing how to diagnose it early on, to an extended period on hormone-altering drugs with difficult side effects, to many surgery cancellations during covid, and all the emotions along the way. She had just gotten the surgery before I did the run, but our eyes were opened to the difficulties people with this disease face.
AN: What was a highlight for you participating in this year’s event?
GB: It was great to meet other people and share our stories of how endometriosis has affected us and the struggles we've gone through to get treatment. Hearing about the political work the organizers are doing through EndoAct Canada was another highlight. Meeting like-minded people at an event like this seems like a great route into political advocacy.
AN: As someone supporting a loved one with endometriosis in Canada, what are your hopes for future awareness events like The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™?
GB: I hope the run continues and that it keeps expanding because from talking to various friends, it seems like this condition is quite common, despite many doctors not knowing how to deal with it. I also hope that the group continues its political advocacy for increased funding for endometriosis treatment and research.
Graham is grateful to live, work, and gather on the territory of the Massachusett, Pawtucket, and their neighbors the Wampanoag, and Nipmuc Peoples.
Top Team Fundraisers
Alexis Nikolich, Run Director of The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™ had the opportunity to speak to the top team fundraisers of the 2022 event about the advice that they have for others that wish to fundraise, the changes that they’ve witnessed over the years, and what motivates them to participate.
GoodbyeEndo
Photo credit: Dana Friedrichsen
Dana Friedrichsen (she/her), Team Leader
Toronto, Ontario
Funds raised in 2022: $3,631.50
Total funds raised: $8,221.09
Alexis Nikolich (AN): What motivates you to fundraise for The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™?
Dana Friedrichsen (DF): A few things motivate me to fundraise: the lack of proper care in Canada for endometriosis patients; the lack of general knowledge and understanding that society has of the disease; and I am motivated by the countless friends I have made online who also suffer from endo.
AN: What do you wish everyone knew about this event and the cause behind it?
DF: I wish people knew about the lack of funds endometriosis research receives and that TENC is working hard to change this, among other things. I also wish people realized that many of the people involved in hosting this event are affected by endo themselves and suffering while doing it (aka strong AF folks)!
AN: As someone who has been a top team fundraiser for The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™ two years in a row, what changes and year-to-year growth have you observed while participating in this awareness event?
DF: Over the years, I have noticed more and more participants, whether that’s virtually or in person when in-person events have been held. I think the pandemic has affected people’s participation in all sorts of events and activities, so my hope is that at next year’s in-person run, we will see a lot more people!
Dana is grateful to live, work and gather on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
The Pain Killers
Photo credit: Ashton Golding
Ashton Golding (she/her), Team Leader
Minesing, Ontario
Funds raised in 2022: $2,622.11
Total funds raised: $6,850.86
Alexis Nikolich (AN): What motivates you to fundraise for The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™?
Ashton Golding (AG): I am motivated to continue to fundraise for The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™ because it is helping to raise crucial awareness about endometriosis, and in turn, providing necessary support to those who are impacted. We need to continue to advocate for this disease and strive to end the stigmas associated with it, including surrounding periods, because we all deserve much better care. The Endometriosis Network Canada has brought together an incredible community of endo warriors and events like this are helping to build and strengthen our community. This community keeps me motivated to continue advocating and fundraising!
AN: What do you wish everyone knew about this event and the cause behind it?
AG: I wish that everyone knew more about endometriosis and how debilitating and life-changing it can be. Endometriosis is not just a “bad period”; it can often affect many systems in the body and have major impacts on someone’s quality of life. It can also have negative impacts on those who are supporting someone with this disease. Far too many people are affected by endometriosis and there is not nearly enough support or resources for those who are suffering. Additionally, there is still a major lack of awareness and education about endometriosis within the medical community, governments and society as a whole. The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™ is helping to raise awareness, break down barriers and provide much needed support to those who are suffering.
AN: As someone who has been a top team fundraiser for The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™ two years in a row, what changes and year-to-year growth have you observed while participating in this awareness event?
AG: While participating in this awareness event over the last two years, I have seen both the total number of registered participants and total cumulative funds raised increase year after year. I think this goes to show that the tireless advocacy efforts of TENC’s volunteers and the event participants is paying off and helping The Endo Network’s Run To End Endo™ gain more traction. We are continuously reaching more people which is helping to spread vital awareness and education about endometriosis. It truly has been incredible to see so much growth each year and I am so grateful for the continued outpour of support.
Ashton is grateful to live, work, and gather on the land of the Anishinabewaki, Wendake-Nionwentsïo, Haudenosaunee, and Mississaugas.
Proactive Pelvic Health Centre is the first private integrative pelvic health rehabilitation clinic in Toronto.
We assist all genders, of all ages and stages, with pelvic health issues such as pain and incontinence. Our mission is simple: to improve the quality of life of those that we treat with professional, confidential and compassionate care.
Cornwall Wellness Centre
Cornwall Wellness Centre is a multidisciplinary clinic in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island offering general physiotherapy, pelvic health therapy and massage therapy.
For more details on each discipline, please visit cornwallwellnesscentre.com.
To contact us for an appointment, please email info@cornwallwellnesscentre.com or call 902-370-2137.
