Mini Marathon countdown: ‘6km will be a challenge... but I never thought I’d be able to do it’

A Cork woman who lived with debilitating endometriosis for over a decade is urging others to advocate for their symptoms and have their voices heard.

Fiona Higgins is taking part in this weekend’s The Echo Mini Marathon to raise money for Endometriosis Ireland, a volunteer-led organisation that highlights the need to support women and families affected by endometriosis and adenomyosis.

The last time Fiona took part in the mini marathon was back in 2019, but in the following years the primary school teacher battled daily pain, exhaustion, and menstrual issues caused by the condition that all but put her life on hold.

“Looking back, I probably had endometriosis all my life – I can remember before I even had my first period having really bad cramps and stomach pains. And then as a teen I’d have struggled with bad pain with my monthly cycle. I was very sporty, and it would have impacted me badly,” remembers Fiona.

But it was only in the past decade that her symptoms ramped up to such an extent that they became unbearable.

“I had severe back pain, in fact aches and pains all over, I’d have felt exhaustion right to my bones, nearly all the time, but it would peak when I’d get my period, and I’d be doubled over in pain,” she said.

Living in Novohal, she’s mum to three boys aged 10, 9, and 6.

“Before I had the boys, doctors would have told me that things would improve when I’d have babies, and afterwards I was told that being tired was just part of having babies, when in fact things got worse. My labours, deliveries, and recoveries were all very challenging,” she said.

Ultimately, Fiona ended up joining the dots herself and advocating for her diagnosis.

“Around a year after my third child was born, I still wasn’t feeling well. I was getting my period every two to three weeks and was in a lot of pain. I was in and out to my GP all the time, and my quality of life was going downhill. I was really miserable. It felt almost like I was in labour the whole time, or that I had a kettlebell inside me,” she said.

After a lot of ‘back and forth’ with medical professionals, she was diagnosed with adenomyosis, where tissue from the inner lining of the uterus grows into its outer muscular wall.

“I had a hysterectomy, which may sound like a radical decision to make at the age of 39, but I’d have done anything to relieve the pain I was in, and I felt really lucky that I already had my three boys,” she said.

That was in October, 2023, and since then her life is unrecognisable.

“My quality of life is so different now – looking back, I often wonder how I got through those years,” she said.

Fiona now feels driven to help others in the same situation, which is why she’s taking part in the mini marathon.

“But I also want girls to realise that periods aren’t meant to impact your quality of life and to speak up if they are.

“I also want to keep advocating for more awareness and support for endometriosis. It’s a silent condition and often there’s not adequate support for it, especially in the workplace.

“It’s also hard to diagnose, and despite more women suffering from it than diabetes, I feel that it’s not spoken about enough, or taken seriously enough.

“Women’s health in Ireland 2026 needs more awareness in the workplace, support, research and multidisciplinary medical teams for its whole body effects. We are years behind so many other countries.”

Fiona said she couldn’t have kept going without her husband Brian, her three ‘handsome boys’, three sisters (two of whom are running with her) and her parents.

“My family have supported me at every stage on my endo journey. They were always close by helping with my boys and keeping the show on the road any time I was sick, recovering, or unable to drive, etc, after my surgery.

“I also want to thank my teammates from Tracton Mothers and Others team who have been incredibly supportive of me and my fundraising efforts for Endometriosis Ireland. They are such an inspirational bunch of strong women,” she said.

What’s her advice to other women in the same situation?

“Trust their instincts, don’t be afraid to speak up, and don’t be afraid to change GP if you don’t think you’re being listened to. Just because women have a high pain threshold doesn’t mean we need to suffer.”

She admits the 6km run will be a ‘big challenge’

“But it’s something that at one stage in my life I never thought I’d be able to do and I absolutely can’t wait!”

“I’m running this year along with my sisters to raise money for Endo Ireland.”

See Fiona’s fundraising page at : https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/FH72041866