Awareness is the Key

After living with Dermatomyositis for the last four years and coping with the slow progression of muscle weakness and Mobility it still surprises me how little is known about Myositis, not only by the public but also by the medical profession.

for the last couple of years after going from a walking cane to a Rollator to a Power wheelchair I decided in 2004 that I needed to do something to raise awareness of Myositis, not only in the Uk but on a Global scale and being a member of several Myositis groups on Facebook, I thought "Why not use Social media to Raise awareness and so enter...................

Wally Wombat AKA "Wandering Wally"

Wally in Southsea by the Garrison Church

Wally was thought up by myself in August/September 2014 and the idea was that he would have a Facebook Page and travel the world meeting people and spreading awareness of Myositis in his travels, He started from outside the Garrison Church in his hometown of Portsmouth . The Garrison Church, was also Known as the "Domus Dei" a historical meeting place and hospital for Pilgrims making there way to Canterbury Cathedral way back in History.

As the Pilgrims relied on the kindness of other People so Wally relies on the kindness of "Host Families" to help him on his "Global Myositis Awareness Journey"

And so the Journey Begins

Wally's Journey began on the 4th October 2014 at High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, at a "Myositis Friends support group meeting"
At the Meeting were Amber and Barry O'Connor from Australia, Amber was the admin of "Myositis Support Australasia" Now known as "Global Myositis Network" Amber and Barry were over in the UK visiting relatives and also on a tour of "Northern Europe" Amber has IBM (Inclusion Body Myositis)  and they were to become Wally's first hosts taking him on there tour with them and eventually taking him back to Australia, so he could find other host families to help him Spread awareness of myositis around Australia and beyond.

Here I am Handing Wally over to Amber for the start of his journey.

 Wally spent a couple of days in England with Amber and Barry visiting London on the 5th of October 2014 and Brighton on the 6th October 2014 before heading to France on the 7th.

On the South Bank of the River Thames in London

A Rainy day in Brighton

On the 7th of October 2014 Wally, along with Amber and Barry boarded the train at St Pancras to head off on the Journey to France it was a long day leaving London at about 11.00 am and driving at the hotel in Montmartre in Paris at about 9.00 pm.

At St Pancras, waiting for the train

Time for Breakfast

Arrived at Gar de la Est

After arriving they found there way out of the station and made there way to the hotel which was in Montmartre, Paris.

So here Wally is in Paris France and ready for the next stage of the "Myositis Awareness  Journey" I will continue the story on my next post in a couple of days but you can follow Wally's journey over the first year at his Facebook page by clicking Here

Enjoy the Journey. to be continued