On Saturday, May 13th, 2023, we held our first EVER EndoSocial event.
Despite the train strike causing unexpected challenges, our EndoSocial was a resounding success! So much so, we're already planning our next one.
We were joined by members of our community, most of those who arrived alone and some who travelled across the country to make it. Along with one member who came all the way from Los Angeles especially to join us.
One of our main highlights from the Social was the opportunity to provide a safe place for members to come together and connect with one another.
Many had spoken via our online community support groups years before meeting in person.
Many also found comfort in meeting others with similar challenges and a genuine understanding.
Some even opened up sharing their own personal experiences during our panel Q&A session.
Despite the unexpected change to our line up, our panel of experts held the fort answering burning questions and providing support to those who felt lost or uncertain in their Endometriosis journey.
Our panel was made up of our founder, CEO and event host, Carla Cressy, Dr's Linda Farahani and Sophie Medlin, our wonderful sponsors - Lina Chan, the founder of Parla - Holland & Barrett's women's wellness brand, and the lovely Coni Jefferson, co-founder of Nixibody.
Together they fielded questions, shared their experience and expertise, and offered hope. Their collective wisdom and dedication left a lasting impact on everyone.
The incredibly talented Charlotte Boundy provided space to showcase her beautiful collection of art, providing opportunity for our members to admire her work, and bond over a condition so many know so little about.
We couldn't leave our guests to starve, so we were delighted when The Food Hack agreed to provide some delicious snacks - Holland & Barrett also provided unlimited Kombucha tea and nibbles - although they probably underestimated how many Thai crackers we'd get through!
That's all from our first EndoSocial.
Do subscribe to our newsletter to keep in the loop and stay up to date for when we announce our next Social.
In the mean time, take a look at some of the feedback we have received so far...
We asked our attendees...
What was your favourite moment from our Social?
Here's what they had to say.
"It was so valuable to be able to speak to proper experts on the panel and meet other women so we could all share our experiences"
"Seeing how many women are at different stages of their journey and the things they are dealing with as complete strangers at 12 noon and by 3pm have shared some pretty harrowing stories and experiences in something that connected us all in the room. Hearing the specialists talk about their own health struggles was quite empowering also"
"Having direct access to speak openly to consultant specialists where you may be waiting 7-12 months to do so with your own care team"
"Meeting so many others who understand me! Lovely to be able to connect with people who understand and empathise with your pain/troubles - I don’t really know anyone with endo"
"Being able to get professional advice in a safe and comforting space away from hospital and doctor settings"
100% of our attendees also said...
They would attend our future Social events
They would recommend to a friend or colleague
They felt the speakers provided valuable insights and information
They felt they had the opportunity to engage and ask questions
They were happy with the overall event
Our first EVER EndoSocial event exceeded our expectations, and we hope that through connections, shared experiences, and insightful discussions we were able to create a safe place for those that needed it.
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those that made it happen, and we cannot wait for our next EndoSocial event that we hope will further empower and uplift our community.
Together, we can make a difference.