Purple Walk marked a success

<b>PURPLE FIESTA:</b> People getting their walk on to raise awareness. All photos by: Candice Jones — **PURPLE FIESTA:** People getting their walk on to raise awareness. All photos: Candice Jones

Hundreds of people dressed in purple surrounded Hamilton Lake on Wednesday night, hoping to create awareness of a painful condition that affects many women.

The Purple Walk is held annually at Lake Rotoroa to spread awareness of endometriosis nationwide.

Endometriosis, which affects one in 10 women, involves tissue from the uterus growing in other areas of the body. It can be removed using laparoscopic surgery.

“I was absolutely thrilled with the turnout this year, it was great to see everyone who got purpled up,” said Annette Evans, Insight Endometriosis manager, and Purple Walk coordinator.

<b>BALLOON FRENZY:</b>Team Mirenas get ready to strut their stuff. From left to right: Ashlee Peters, Toni Earby, Cassandra Smeenk, Audry Stanly. — **BALLOON FRENZY:**Team Mirenas get ready to strut their stuff. From left: Ashlee Peters, Toni Earby, Cassandra Smeenk, Audry Stanly.

The tone of the walk was set from the start when everyone participated in fun Zumba dancing.

Toni Earby, 19, came in a team of four, called The Mirenas, all dressed in a costume entirely of purple balloons

Earby has endometriosis despite having surgery to remove it when she was 18.

<b>WIND DOWN:</b> Team Purple People wind down and enjoy their goody bags. Left to right: Riley, Jen Ward — **WIND DOWN:** Team Purple People wind down and enjoy their goody bags. From left: Riley, Jen Ward

“The surgery didn’t help, it didn’t help at all.”

Mirenas team-mate Cassandra Smeenk, 21, also has endometriosis. She said that girls with the condition tend to think the period pain is normal, and they only have it once a month, so it’s okay.

Over 500 people participated in the walk, and were greeted at the finish line, with fresh fruit and cold refreshing water, as well as the much anticipated goody bags.

<b>CHUFFED:</b>Annette Evans is full of smiles after the successful event. — **CHUFFED:** Annette Evans is full of smiles after the successful event.

Jen Ward, 22, came back for her second year in a row.

“I found it a lot of fun last year, and I also have endometriosis, so I want to increase awareness,” she said.

“I love that you get to dress up and be silly and celebrate women.”

Shanti Carter, 19, had no idea what the walk was about.

“I got invited to come by some friends and thought, yeah I will go along, and now I know a lot more about endometriosis.”

Funds raised are used towards Insight Endometriosis support services for women with the condition.

“We get no government funding for what we do, so we run entirely on grants and fundraising,” Evans said.

“We run this event once a year, but endometriosis women are effected by it 24/7 365 days a year, we need to do stuff that creates awareness for the other 364 days of the year,” Evans said.