‘I never thought one day I would have an autoimmune disease:’ Aniko shares her inspiration to walk up to 5k every day for a month

Being diagnosed with Dermatomyositis came as a shock to Aniko, who has challenged herself to walk up to 5k a day for a month to raise money for the Wren Project.

Speaking about her recent diagnosis, Aniko said the symptoms caused her to feel “very desperate,” and affected both her physical and mental health.

“I was recently diagnosed with Dermatomyositis, which is a quite rare autoimmune disease,” she said.

“It was quite a big shock to me, and to be honest, I never thought that one day I’d have an autoimmune disease. My muscles were inflamed, and I had serious issues with my skin. I couldn’t walk, sleep, or even grab a spoon to eat with.

“My mental health was affected as well. I was very desperate, but at the same time, I understood one thing: I needed to fight to win against this awful illness.”

Aniko, who is currently receiving support from one of the Wren Project’s dedicated volunteers, said she worked hard after her diagnosis to “rebuild” herself.

She said: “Following my diagnosis], I started physiotherapy and began walking a little bit every day. I worked so hard, and luckily, weeks later, I was able to walk 5K a day. I can’t be thankful enough for my family, friends, and colleagues’ support during these times and even now."

Speaking about her journey and discovering the Wren Project, Aniko shared: “At the beginning, I focused on my physical health and put my mental health in second place. However, after a few months, I realized that my mental health was affected as well.

”I tried to find some support, and that’s how I found The Wren Project. I read everything about them and contacted them. I am now having regular sessions with one of their volunteers, and I’m very happy with the support I’m receiving. I would like to help The Wren Project because they are doing a fantastic job for those of us affected by autoimmune diseases.”

Aniko plans to walk up to 5k every day throughout October to help raise money for the Wren Project.

”I don’t feel 100% well yet, but I decided to walk 3-5K every day with my sausage dog, Steven, for a month to support The Wren Project,” she explained.

”People don’t know a lot about autoimmune illnesses, but they affect millions all around the UK. I think we need to speak more about these diseases and help people who are dealing with them. The Wren Project is a massive help for people who need to deal with autoimmune illnesses every day.”

She added: ”They understand the huge impact a diagnosis has on mental and emotional health. They are helping me as well, and I am so thankful for that.

You can support Aniko on her challenge this October by donating to her fundraising effort here.