Ellie Taylor, originally from Preston and now living in Swarthmoor, suffers from endometriosis, which occurs when cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body – resulting in inflammation, pain and scar tissue.
Her boyfriend Andy Rawlinson will be running the Manchester Marathon in April to raise money for Endo UK and to share the struggles that Ellie has gone through to secure proper treatment.
He said: “Despite how common endometriosis is, the condition is drastically underfunded and under researched.
“In fact, there has historically been more research into male pattern baldness than into endometriosis — an incurable condition affecting millions of women.
“So far, myself and Ellie have managed to raise around £1,500 that will go towards vital services such as helplines, webinars relaying reliable information, web chats and a community where everyone is heard and supported.”
Ellie Taylor underwent surgery for endometriosis in December last year (Image: Submitted)
In 2014, at just 14 years old, Ellie attended her first GP appointment due to severe menstrual symptoms but was told that her experiences were ‘normal’.
She continued to seek medical help over the ensuing years as her symptoms worsened with none of the provided treatments offering relief.
In 2021 Ellie underwent an ultrasound scan, which showed nothing of clinical significance, and was once again told that nothing was wrong.
It was only in 2023 that she sought private medical care at a personal cost of approximately £3,500.
An MRI revealed small suspected areas of endometriosis within the pelvis, multiple cysts on the ovaries and fallopian tubes, and possible involvement of the bowel, bladder and rectum.
Andy Rawlinson will be running the Manchester Marathon next month to further raise awareness (Image: Submitted)
Andy added: “Ellie has chosen to share her story to raise awareness of endometriosis – a debilitating condition that is too often misunderstood, minimised, or dismissed.
“She hopes that by speaking out, others may feel empowered to persist in seeking answers and that greater understanding can be fostered around a disease that affects so many women every day.
“This feels like a crucial time to shine a spotlight on the condition.”
Following a return to NHS care, Ellie was directed towards a specialist endometriosis centre in Preston but delays over treatment continued.
On December 4, 2025 – 11 years after her symptoms first began – Ellie underwent surgery to remove extensive endometriosis, which lasted close to five hours due to the progression of the condition.
She was formally diagnosed with Stage Four deep infiltrating endometriosis and, at just 26, was placed into medical menopause in an effort to slow the regrowth of the disease and delay further surgical intervention.
Now, three months post-operation, Ellie is once again experiencing chronic pain at levels similar to those she endured before surgery and is awaiting further consultations.
“We hope to build on our fundraising total with greater awareness and a better understanding in our local community,” Andy explained.
“We reached out to the lighthouse keeper of Hoad Monument with another campaign, ‘Go yellow for Endo’, and we were incredibly grateful to find they were more than happy to support the cause.
“On March 9, the monument will shine yellow – we hope a symbolic moment in our community helping to raise that much needed awareness and understanding.”