Why it matters: The campaign aims to raise awareness of the 760,000 women currently on NHS waiting lists for gynaecology appointments, with wait times having tripled since pre-COVID.
The charity is seeking to raise a symbolic £27,000 to represent the 27,000 women who have been waiting over a year for an appointment.
The details: The "Painathon" initiative will feature posters along the London Marathon route displaying photos of real women suffering from constant pain from gynaecological conditions.
The women featured will wear bibs showing their wait times for healthcare rather than marathon numbers, drawing a parallel between the 26-mile endurance test and marathon-like waits for treatment.
"These are illnesses that disproportionately, and often exclusively, impact women, yet they continue to be overlooked and underfunded," said Monica Thomas, founder of Women's Health Hope.
By the numbers:
More than 260,000 women are waiting over the maximum government requirement of 18 weeks to see a specialist doctor
The UK has the largest gender health gap among G20 countries
The UK ranks 12th globally in terms of women's health, according to the Benenden Health Report 2024
Posters will be displayed accross London
The bigger picture: Women's Health Hope was founded by Thomas after her own 17-year battle with multiple complex conditions, including endometriosis, adenomyosis, and lichen sclerosus.
The Ipswich-based charity aims to support women through their health journeys, advocate for better care, and educate on vital health issues.
How to help: People can donate via the Women's Health Hope Just Giving fundraising page. Women affected by long wait times can also participate in the Painathon by creating their fundraising pages.
The bottom line: The campaign sends "a clear message to the government: it's time to take women's health seriously, and to go further in turning commitments into meaningful change," said Thomas.
