For Scleroderma Awareness Month we launched a Virtual Relay Walk. Scleroderma associations all over the world have been organising annual walking events, and this year we had to do things a bit differently. We launched the Virtual Relay Walk inspired by the efforts of Una Gillespie. The format was straightforward – do your walk your way, whether it’s two steps in your house, 10 in your garden or 10,000 in your local area – everyone has different challenges to overcome. You could walk alone, with members of your household or with friends at a social distance. Once your walk was completed you passed the baton on – nominating friends, family or colleagues. We can all walk together even though we are apart. The virtual relay walk was launched in June but it isn’t over – with the promise of some nice weather, you can still organise a walk. Help us reach our goal and raise £19,000 for the 19,000 people in the UK currently diagnosed with Scleroderma.
Una’s story During May, Una Gillespie walked 10km around the perimeter of her house every Saturday for four weeks. She was diagnosed with diffuse Scleroderma five years ago which affects her skin and internal organs including her lungs – so this really was a challenge for Una. She was motivated to keep going by her goal of helping us to fund research, information and support – with the particular aim of setting up a support group in Northern Ireland where she lives and has found that there is currently a lack of support. Una smashed her original £250 target and raised over £6,385. Her employer Taranto Ltd was especially supportive and donated £1,550, which is amazing and so vital to us. Una also recruited friends and family across the world to walk virtually with her and this inspired us to pick up the baton and keep the walking going with the SRUK Virtual Relay Walk.
23
