Can you walk 10metres, 10mins or 10km for those in pain?

Saturday 22 June 2019

A chronic pain sufferer support group is inviting islanders to join them in a walking challenge to raise awareness of the fact that an easy stroll for one person could be a step too far for another.

Pain Support Jersey will tomorrow (Sunday 23 June) take on a 10K Walk from West Park to St. Aubin, starting at 14:30.

Launched in 2010, the charity supports Islanders who suffer from a variety of conditions that cause them persistent pain, restricting their mobility and stamina.

Ranging from gentle exercise guided by physiotherapists from the Pain Management Centre to mindfulness sessions led by Clinical Psychologist, Alessio Agostinis, the group offers various weekly activities to its members.

"Once a month we have a guest speaker come and talk to members about a varying topic and there are also walks and socials too," Laura Butlin-Policarpo

There are currently over 70 members in the group, the largest the charity has been. However, Mrs Butlin-Policarpo said the group is hoping to grow its ranks as there are an estimated 10,000 chronic pain sufferers in the island.

Pictured: The Pain Support Group currently has 70 members.

The work of the charity is life-enhancing for many, but it requires funding. Pain Support Jersey raises money through various small events, and did receive start-up grants from the Association of Jersey Charities.

The walk is their biggest fundraiser so far and aims to provide a major boost so that it can continue helping Islanders who suffer from persistent pain.

"The 10K Walk For Pain Support is about raising awareness of persistent pain," Mrs Butlin-Policarpo said. "For a lot of pain sufferers, walking is uncomfortable and challenging, yet something most of us take for granted. I have organised the walk with the aim of highlighting this."

Pictured: The walk will start from West Park at 14:30.

Mrs Butlin-Policarpo has seen firsthand how misunderstood the condition is, because her younger sister suffers from chronic pain. "It’s invisible the majority of the time which is what can make others ignorant when it comes to the topic," she explained. "Alongside pain, there are often secondary effects which make life for persistent pain sufferers debilitating. There are social implications, difficulties in working environments.

"Loneliness and isolation are often words we wouldn’t associate with pain, but most pain sufferers would quickly tell you these are secondary effects of suffering from persistent pain."

Anyone can take park in the walk from West Park to St Aubin and back, including "self-confessed couch potatoes", ultra runners wanting to slow down, families and even four-legged friends.

Some members of the group will even be joining in, either for short distances or along the route, to support walkers and tell people about the charity and its "life-changing work."