I am excited about the run now. I have never run a 1/2 marathon before and so it is a step into the unknown. Having said that, each day is a step into the unknown as we can only ever try and predict the future based upon what we know. In that sense, why worry?
It is tempting to have a little run today to keep the legs moving. I have been told that having run for over an hour and now used to plodding along for this time, the last 45 minutes to an hour will be fuelled by the event atoms sphere created by the people and the place. I’ll let you know.
The UP team have had incredible support in many ways including the very generous donations that continue to be made. You can give here to contribute to our mission of changing the number one global health burden that is chronic pain ~ click here
The aim was £5000 and we have already achieved over £7000 demonstrating how people feel about the scale of this problem. It is around 1:5 people, 20% of children, that experience and live with persistent pain. This is an enormous number of people and of course the reasons for the pain are far and wide as are the contributing factors. Many people do not realise that tiredness, stress and emotional state play a significant role in an individual’s pain.
~ Pain is not well related to injury. Consider phantom limb pain for a moment. There is no limb yet there is pain in that limb; in that space. We don’t need a physical presence to suffer pain and this is because most of the biology of pain does not exists where we actually feel it. You don’t need to hear a joke laugh, you may just think of something funny. When you are at the cinema and the film appears on the screen, where are all the components that make this possible? Most are not on or involving the screen. There is a the projector, the software, the power source etc etc. In understanding pain, we think more widely and hence develop therapies and ways forwards ~ this is the essence of UP and the research we are supporting.
The money that has been raised so far will allow us to set up a strong foundation. We will apply to become a charity, which will enable us to grow and develop. We hope to link with other charities who are in aid of conditions where pain is a problem. The website can now be transformed into a great resource for all to access and learn about pain ~ understand pain to change pain has always been our motto. Like any problem, when we understand it, we know what to do.
The understanding of pain has moved on enormously over the past 10 years and this will continue. In particular my optimism comes from the incredible research that is being undertaken, which we will be reporting upon and supporting. Interestingly, the main thrust comes now from a blend of disciplines drawing upon their knowledge to create a fresh and testable model that is by far the most exciting model that exists. It would not surprise me if this model were to explain many of life’s conundrums.
So now it’s back to the run. The people have supported us and our job at the UP team is to put one foot in front of the other and have fun tomorrow at the Royal Parks 1/2 marathon. Look out for the logo and come and say hello!
What else can you do to help UP?
Follow us on twitter here @upandsing and use #upandrun for the hashtag of the day and on Facebook; retweet our tweets, tweet your own, tweet a picture of the UP logo, grab a picture with one of the UP team!
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understand pain 