Scars of Gold - A Charity Design to Support Disabled Women
When Dr Liz Murray BCA appeared on our Instagram back in January it was a moment that stopped me in my tracks. Standing proud with a beaming smile, Liz was receiving a British Citizens Award, recognising individuals doing extraordinary things in the local community. Not only that but she was proudly wearing a Gold Glitter Cool Walking Stick and instantly I wanted to hear all about the work she was doing.
A long zoom later, Liz and I realised we had both been through so much personally when it came to our health, but also shared our mission to help other women like us who were highly likely to go through exactly the same unless we did something to help.
Having both suffered life changing health in our early twenties, we know first hand how dramatic and shocking it can be. Whilst I went on to run Cool Crutches, Liz has combined her knowledge as a doctor as well as a patient, to create something extraordinary.
Mortal & Strong was born out of a need for something better, to support women of all ages navigate health changes in the prime of their life. With expert led support programmes, health campaigns and advocacy the work Mortal & Strong does, is changing lives for the better.
The photography Scars of Gold was inspired by Kintsugi, which is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending areas of breakage with dusted or mixed powdered gold, silver or platinum
In partnership with photographer Sammy Weston, Liz's latest campaign, Scars of Gold is a major UK campaign interviewing 100 women with life changing / incurable conditions at a young age. The campaign culminated in an exhibition in Waterloo with 100 black and white photographs of women depicting their scars with gold leaf inspired by the Japanese art Kintsugi. The focus was on spotlighting the vast range of conditions impacting women, often not visible. The outcome? Raising awareness and funds to support better action and support for future disabled women in the UK.
I was fortunate to be able to visit the exhibition and not only was I blown away by the sensational photography and art work, but the four other women visiting who were wearing Cool Crutches & Walking Sticks. A first for me as a founder to see our crutches and walking sticks worn in public, totally by coincidence - something I can wholeheartedly say I will never forget. Sarah, Liz, Gabz and Nirusha thank you for all the work you're doing and support you've given us too!
Scars of Gold has been an incredible initiative, not dissimilar to Cool Crutches it was launched and executed by two women on a mission to support other women living with life altering conditions and disabilities.
Dr Liz’s story is one that struck a cord with me personally, like me she was at uni when her health changed forever and her life and work over the last 20 years has meant facing her own mortality but also realising there is a vast community of other women like us, who desperately need support too.
Which is why we are delighted to be working together to do exactly that by launching Scars of Gold as a Walking Stick and Crutches with 10% of all sales of this brand new design being donated directly to Mortal & Strong to support women affected by a health diagnosis or injury. To give them the tools to get their life back on track, in a way that’s comfortable, safe and inspires confidence.
If you'd like to read more about Dr Liz then her blog is here:
Dr Liz Murray: Women's Health Advocate Living with Stage 4 Endometriosis
If you'd like to shop Scars of Gold then click HERE for Crutches or HERE for Walking Sticks.
