As I turn out the lights, and close the door on oursecond National Fertility Awareness Week, I am once

again quite astounded by the response we have received.The main aim of this week is to increase awareness of

fertility issues. Perhaps I should clarify this; we want to makepeople aware of the terrible suffering caused by the struggle to have

a family. We want others to under stand the grief, hurt and pure injustice of notbeing able to conceive. So many people have simply no idea just how painful thisexperience can be, something which should be natural.. our right … and well,easy. In addition to this we want to remind people about the facts, and the truthsabout fertility. We want all women to have all the information available so theycan make choices based upon simple facts. Is it harder to conceive as you getolder – yes, sadly it is.

During National Fertility Awareness Week we believe we made huge stridesinto achieving these two goals. Our Facebook and Twitter pages saw anunprecedented increase, with us ‘reach ing’ 600% more people than on otherweeks.

On Twitter we had so many people who joined in and used our #NFAWUK,and helped spread the message far and wide. Individuals, busin esses,corporations and clinics all ‘tweeted’ about the week and quite a buzz started.

On Facebook, again, everyone contributed brilliantly. Particularly our GreatCake Bake, which was another tremendous success. Firstly, we cannot begin toexpress how grateful we are to everyone who participates each year, giving uptheir time, and their money, to bake for us. The events all looked like great funand some of the cakes were quite simply stunning! We love receiving yourphotos, so please do always send us images from events you have had. It’s abizarre thing to see so many cakes made to look like sperm and eggs, plus theystill looked delicious?!

Follow this link and take a look at a few of the creations from this year:www.nfaw.org.uk/cakes/index.html

We also had our Embryo Challenge. This was simplywhere we asked clinics if they would like to take up

our challenge, and donate £5 for every embryofertilized during the week. What a truly wonderful

way to raise money for charity by creatingfamilies! I would personally like to take thisopportunity on behalf of every one here atInfertility Network UK, and thank each andevery clinic for taking part, its an incrediblygenerous thing to do and very muchappreciated.

What a

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The following clinics took part in our EmbryoChallenge:● Complete Fertility Centre Southampton● CRM CARE London● Herts & Essex Fertility Centre● Newlife Clinic● Lister Clinic● Wessex Fertility● Zita West Clinic● Bath Fertility Centre● Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine● CARE Nottingham● CARE Sheffield● Centre for Reproductive Medicine and

Fertility, Sheffield /Jessop● Hull IVF Unit● Reproductive Health Group● GCRM Belfast● Origin Fertility Centre, Northern Ireland● Hope Fertility, Glasgow (Nuffield Health)● Spire Healthcare, IVF Scotland● Clinica Eugin, Spain

On top of this we were joined by so many membersof the wider fertility comm unity. We called thissection ‘Helping Hands’ and it was supportedby a vast range of alternative therapies andcounselling services. It was great to see somany different people coming together tomake the week a success.

So now, it’s probably time to startplanning for next year! Our third NationalFertility Aware ness Week will begin onMonday 2nd November and finish with TheFertility Show on Saturday 7th and Sunday8th November 2015.

And remember, this isn’t our week, it’s yours …Kara MyhillNFAW Campaign Manager

Success!