Health holds the keys to the Crown

Dr Anita Sharma is the founder of Endometriosis Awareness North and a campaigner for health equality.

She has worked with Upturn to distribute period products to people in disadvantaged areas, and believes passionately that our goal of helping everyone achieve, can be attained – if society can tackle poverty and poor health.  

Dr Sharma is also a supporter of our new programme to celebrate entrepreneurial women, CROWN.

“Is there any greater ambition than to help someone become the best version of themself? Successful, happy, healthy.

Anyone in that most fortunate position already would acknowledge that somewhere along the line, someone would have helped them.

And my guess is, that someone would be an organisation like Upturn.

Poor health impact

One of the biggest barriers to success remains chronic health and wellbeing. Problems ranging from addiction to obesity, depression to the menopause, can sap our confidence and prevent us from achieving our potential.

When it comes to conditions such as endometriosis and period poverty however, this should never be a barrier. Sadly, it is. A toxic concoction of ignorance and misogyny means that awareness of endometriosis is appalling, with some telling me in a survey they thought it was a throat infection! No wonder there is no current cure and those with the condition can wait ten years for a correct diagnosis.

Celebrating the crown

Upturn’s CROWN initiative is one way we can change this. I understand that first and foremost it is a business initiative, designed to encourage and support entrepreneurial women to the top of their professions. But I am so pleased to see that it also involves visits to schools and other events which will aim to promote better awareness in the workplace, so that policies are inclusive, and no one is left behind. And that includes those with conditions such as endo and the menopause.

I hope to play my part in CROWN and, in their vehicle of hope, continue to travel around our Greater Manchester region delivering hygiene products to homelessness and other community groups. It is disappointing that we live in a society where these initiatives and indeed foodbanks should have to exist, but we must offer the vulnerable any help we can.

All power to the CROWN and to Upturn’s work in our communities. May it help all people reach their full potential, including those for whom sickness has already taken enough toll.

Learn more about Dr Anita Sharma’s charity Endometriosis Awareness North by visiting https://endometriosisawarenessnorth.com/