Primary school teacher helps to raise funds for Endometriosis UK with 2019 calendar

Katie Awdas, 32, has stepped out of her comfort zone and joined 11 other women in making a calendar for Endometriosis UK, with 100% of the profits being donated to the charity. 

Endometriosis UK is a charity providing information, support services and a community for women suffering from the chronic condition. 

Katie, along with the other women involved with the calendar, want to raise more awareness of endometriosis and have their voices heard.

She said: “Being part of the calendar was a massive leap out of my comfort zone. I’m a plus size woman and didn’t expect to be chosen, but doing it was truly the most life changing moment of my life with endometriosis. 

“Working with the others has been a dream, they’re like my family now. I wouldn’t be without them. I couldn’t be without them.”

Each of the 12 images in the calendar are linked to a theme of that month, accompanied by a few words about each Endosister down the side.  

The creator of the calendar, Emma Williams-Tully, who is a chronic sufferer of endometriosis, put out a message on social media in January asking if any Endosisters would be interested in being part of the calendar.

Emma said: “The response was insane! I honestly never in a million years envisaged anything like it. I am just someone who put a little message out there, but my phone didn’t stop! It shows just how much this means to every single Endosister.

“Every day we go through such physical and emotional pain, sometimes bearing our hearts out to health professionals to not be heard, this was my way of saying you are being heard and you are important.” 

Katie was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2012 after suffering over 10 years of symptoms. She began going to her GP at the age of 16, but did not get a diagnosis of endometriosis until she was 26. 

Earlier this year Katie graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a second-class degree in primary education. 

She said: “Completing my course was hard with endo, particularly difficult when was having major surgeries in my final year. I missed out on a first by less than 0.2%.”

Katie’s husband, Rick, said: “I am immensely proud of Katie for being in the calendar and wanting to raise awareness and money for Endometriosis UK.”

Emma added: “Thank you so much in advance for buying one, it means more than you’ll ever know. For a long time, endometriosis has taken away so much from me, confidence being one of them. I have put my heart and soul into this, I truly hope you love it as much as I do.”

The calendar is on sale for £7.99, all profits go to Endometriosis UK.