Hello friends and supporters.

I have been super busy with various awareness campaigns since I last updated you all about my interview on Circle of White Light radio station in February.

Later in February we launched the 'What About Us' Campaign which involved a press conference in Buswells Hotel and resulted in coverage by RTE News.

In March, I did two interviews for Cannabis Health Magazine. One covered my own story headlined 'Medical Cannabis Access is a Social Class issue' and the other was a compilation of sufferers journeys in various country's and a comparison of each's access to and journey with cannabis headlined 'Living with endometriosis – how medical cannabis is dulling the pain'.

In June, I attended and spoke at the Patients For Safe Access conference alongside fellow chronic pain campaigner, Alicia Maher. I also did an interview with the Irish Examiner.

August was a very busy month for me with interviews for Volteface Magazine, another with the Irish Examiner and a radio interview on East Coast FM.  We had a National Day of Action with Patients for Safe Access outside the Department of Health. The day of action resulted in National Radio Coverage and prompted a lot more open conversation.

August was also a huge month for me as a patient because my pain consultant finally agreed to apply for a Ministerial Cannabis License which means I was finally accepted as a reliable witness to my own experience. I am still in the process of getting the application together and will keep you all updated.

October 6th saw the premiere of Below The Belt in the Irish Film Institute.  It was traumatizing to come face to face with the consultants that caused me so much PTSD but I felt liberated being able to share our suffering collectively and really drive home how let down we all feel as a community.

I spoke on Joe Duffy with many other advocates and the sheer volume of suffering saw the topic covered for 7 radio days consecutively.

Senator Lynn Ruane spoke passionately about her own suffering on the Below the Belt panel and today the Irish Examiner covered her concerns around socio-economic status playing a role in adequate treatment and diagnosis.

Sadly, I find myself at the heart of this very problem right now.  I need to fundraise €7500 to travel to Bucharest for my second multidisciplinary surgery to expertly excise endometriosis.

I borrowed €10K in 2019 and had the surgery that gave me a real chance at life again.  It allowed me to go back to college and begin a degree in Social Care Work.

I am in Year 2 of this degree and will not be able to move forward unless I get my health under control again so my surgery is confirmed for December 20th and I will be in Romania for a week or so afterwards.  I will be travelling alone as it will be during Christmas time and I cannot expect anyone to give up their Christmas to be stuck with me.

I realize the cost of living crisis has impacted every family in many different ways and so if you are not in a position to donate, please don't feel any pressure. I would really appreciate if you could share the campaign on your social media as we never know who might be in a position to help.

Each of the articles, interviews and media coverage links I participated in can all be found at this link: linktr.ee/endowithaimee

Senator Lynn's article from today can be found here: Irish Examiner

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everyone's support to date.  I have been blown away by the kindness of people on the GoFundMe already.  My gratitude is endless.

Hope you all have a great bank holiday.

Warm wishes,

Aimee