Fibromyalgia sufferer's 5K-a-day challenge stops at Falkirk's famous Kelpies

Sharon Turnbull founder of the support group More Than Fibro, will be visiting the Kelpies on Saturday at 1pm to chat with people and raise awareness of the condition, which affects over two million people in the UK.

Sharon, from Coatbridge, said: “Since More Than Fibro’s launch as a Facebook support group with just four members, we now have over 1000 members on Facebook alone, as well as a podcast.

"We also run walking groups to help our members with mobility and to reduce isolation and I run an advocacy service helping members to access benefits available.”

Sharon’s own experience with fibromyalgia, a long-term condition which causes pain all over the body and extreme tiredness, led her to found More Than Fibro and take on a week of 5K walks to help spread awareness of the condition and the help available.

“I have lived with this chronic illness for almost 20 years now,” said Sharon. “In July 2020 I couldn't walk to my car, I couldn't go upstairs without such extreme pain and breathlessness that I truly believed might be my last breath.

"I had to change my life, I had to beat the demon I had been scared of, loss of mobility. So, I got a referral and had disabled aids fitted in my home, I admitted defeat and accepted a walking stick was going to be the only way I could get around.

"I started walking round the block with the dog and in October 2020 I felt ready, so, mid pandemic, I launched More Than Fibro and set myself a huge challenge – between May 10 and May 17, I’ll be walking 5K every day to raise awareness of Fibromyalgia.

"I wanted to show others a life with chronic illness is not the life I hoped for but now it’s time for me to own it, time to show others they can own it too.”