Get Your Move on with Arthritis UK in May

Here at Arthritis UK, we understand the realities of living with arthritis. That’s why, when developing this new fundraising challenge, we listened carefully to the community and designed it with people living with arthritis in mind.  

So, what’s different about this challenge compared to other movement challenges? Well, firstly you can set your own goal instead of a fixed goal like 10,000 steps a day or walking an hour every day. We want this challenge to be as flexible and personalised as possible because everyone’s experience with arthritis is different.

Flexibility that fits your life

Get Your Move On is also a time-based challenge, spread across the week. There might be days when you feel like it’s just a little bit more difficult to get moving. No pressure at all! You can make up the time on your better days and still take part. At Arthritis UK, we’re all in this together. You’ll find lots of inspirational stories to get you motivated in our Facebook community which you can join once you’ve signed up!  

Louise Baughan, a signed-up Mover in this year’s Get Your Move On, has one such story. 

“Five years ago, I tripped up a very small kerb and face planted the floor also injuring both of my knees (and my pride!) Both knees are now severely arthritic and I have Baker’s cysts behind them both. Arthritis is also present in my fingers, wrists and elbows after years of sport and, in my opinion, having unlucky genes. 

“During my childhood, teens, twenties and 30s I was very active – dancing, swimming, aerobics, squash, tennis, badminton, walking, cycling … I enjoyed being active and healthy. In my thirties I began to have health issues and was eventually diagnosed with fibromyalgia just before my fortieth birthday.”

Finding a way to keep moving 

Today, Louise is aiming to walk and swim for 660 minutes for Get Your Move On. Determined not to miss out on what she can still do, Louise has learned to pace herself and work around her symptoms flexibly – trying to get active on the days when her pain is less severe. She doesn’t want to miss out on what she can still do. And on days when her pain is not as severe, she tries her best to get active. She’s learned to pace herself and worked around her symptoms flexibly. By joining our Get Your Move On challenge, Louise feels very motivated to keep moving and to help raise money towards a future free from arthritis.  

Louise’s story highlights what Get Your Move On is all about – getting moving in your own way, while raising funds and spreading hope. The challenge’s flexibility allows you to take part at your own pace, so you can push yourself in a way you feel comfortable, while working together towards a collective goal. 

So, join us and Get Your Move On this May!