Candice McKenzie-Endometriosis Awareness and Research.

When Candice first set up ENDO Warriors West Lothian with her friend Claire Beattie, she had no idea how far the journey would take her. What began as a small grassroots support group for women living with Endometriosis has grown into a powerful community — one that’s been raising vital funds for pioneering research at the University of Edinburgh for almost a decade.

“My main hobby,” Candice laughs, “is Endometriosis awareness. I’ve been advocating for ten years now — it’s my passion, because I know how much change is still needed.”

Through ENDO Warriors, Candice and her team have spent eight years fundraising for the team at the University, led by Professors Andrew Horne and Philippa Saunders. “It was really important to us that any money we raised went somewhere it would be valued and used in a pioneering way,” she explains. “Professor Horne and Professor Saunders have been absolutely fantastic — and we’re really proud to continue supporting their work.”

Candice’s commitment is deeply personal. After years of pain and misdiagnosis, she was eventually told she had Endometriosis. She’s candid about the challenges of living with a condition still so misunderstood. “One of the biggest issues is that Endometriosis is still seen as a pelvic condition,” she explains. “But when it goes beyond the pelvis, it becomes incredibly hard to manage — or even to find someone who knows how to help you.”

That lack of understanding is exactly why Candice is now also an ambassador for the ENDO1000 project, one of the world’s largest research initiatives into Endometriosis, based at the University of Edinburgh. “When I was asked to become an ambassador, it was a no-brainer,” she says. “ENDO1000 is about understanding the full-body impact of Endometriosis. It’s giving women like me hope — and for the next generation, it could change everything.”

Candice believes that early diagnosis could transform lives. “If half of us had been diagnosed earlier, we wouldn’t be in the same position now,” she says. “Research is where everything starts. That’s where the change can happen.”

Despite her own health challenges, Candice continues to lead from the front — literally. Each year, ENDO Warriors take part in the Kiltwalk, their biggest fundraising event. “The Kiltwalk is huge for us,” she says with a smile. “Walking can be difficult when you live with Endometriosis — you don’t know how your body will cope, where the toilets are, how bad a flare up might be. But we go for it anyway. It’s the most uplifting, empowering experience for us as ENDO Warriors.”

Candice recalls one particularly poignant moment: “Just 10 days after gallbladder surgery removal, I took part in the Kiltwalk. I’d already raised hundreds of pounds in donations and completing it with our small but mighty team meant the world to me. Pushing through the pain and fatigue, I felt the true power of determination and community, and how much we can achieve when we support one another. My team members Tracy, Dionne, Holly, and Robyn were incredible throughout the day.

The group’s fundraising creativity extends well beyond the walking track. “We’ve taken over a cinema in Bathgate to screen the film Deviant, auctioned artwork, run raffles — anything that gets people together and talking about Endometriosis,” she says. “We might not be climbing mountains, but we do our utmost to make sure every penny we raise goes straight to the University.”

Candice manages all fundraising through JustGiving, ensuring transparency and trust. “We don’t take money in any other way,” she explains. “It’s important to us that donors know exactly where their support is going — directly to the research that can make a real difference.”

Her vision for the future is ambitious. “For me, it’s always been about building a database where researchers can look back and see what treatments have been given and what the outcomes were,” she says. “ENDO1000 is already building one of the largest Endometriosis biobanks in the world. By collecting samples and patient stories, researchers can start to see patterns, and those patterns will lead the research in the right direction.”

Candice knows that we need to make further progress as soon as possible for future generations. “It’s not too late for the younger women coming through. If we can catch Endometriosis earlier, understand it better, and stop it from reoccurring after surgery, that’s everything. That’s why I do this.”

Education is another area close to her heart. Working alongside Claire, Candice successfully campaigned to introduce Endometriosis education in West Lothian schools. “We wanted young people to know what’s normal and what’s not,” she says. “Now, boys and girls are being taught about menstrual health, and that’s so important. Because when partners, friends and families understand it too, that’s when change really happens.”

For Candice, the future looks hopeful. “There’s such a fantastic connection between what we do, what ENDO1000 does, and our shared goals,” she says. “For the first time, it feels like there’s a real light being shone on Endometriosis. It’s been in the shadows for far too long.”

And despite everything, she remains optimistic and determined. “The future looks really, really positive,” she says. “We’re seeing momentum build, we’re seeing awareness grow, and the science is catching up with the stories we’ve been telling for years. That’s powerful.”

Candice’s message to others is simple but strong: “If you know ten women, you should know about Endometriosis. Because one of them probably has it. But thanks to research — and to communities like ours — I truly believe the next generation won’t have to go through what we did. That’s what keeps me going.”

Help Candice and ENDO Warriors Bring Endometriosis Research into the Light. Support the ENDO1000 project at the University of Edinburgh — and help accelerate the search for earlier diagnosis, better treatments, and lasting change.

🔗 Donate today to Candice's Just Giving page to support the ENDO1000 Project.

Together, we can make sure that the next generation live in a world where Endometriosis is understood and treated.