The organisation I needed when I was 13

I founded Beyond the Cycle because, like 1 in 10 women and girls, I have struggled with severe menstrual health conditions since my periods began. I missed countless school days, and despite being at supportive schools, there simply weren’t enough resources for students with chronic conditions like PCOS, endometriosis and dysmenorrhea.

I spent my teenage years being told my pain was “normal”, sitting exams in agony and watching opportunities slip away while doctors dismissed my symptoms. The average diagnosis takes 8+ years, which means most of us develop symptoms at 13 or 14 and don’t get proper care until our twenties.

So in 2025, I decided to stop waiting for someone else to fix it. I applied for a small grant from Open Wings Trust, used my own savings to buy our first resource trolleys, and started reaching out to schools, all while finishing my degree.

I’m building Beyond the Cycle into the organisation I needed when I was 13: one that tells girls their pain matters, teaches them to recognise red flags, equips them to advocate in GP appointments, and creates communities where they don’t have to suffer alone.