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My Ups & Downs. Walking the South Downs, differently-abled.

So picture this… I come back from a walk only to find that my FitBit has categorised half of it as ‘outdoor cycling’ and half of it as ‘sport’. This happens to me quite often, because where walking is concerned, I’m differently-abled. I was born with severe Developmental Dysplasia of the Hips (DDH for short). In plain English that means that my hip joints didn’t form properly before I was born. I can walk but it’s not something I do with ease or speed and definitely not with grace!

I’m writing this blog to share my own journey with my funny walk – in an open, vulnerable way. Being ‘different’ has been a positive and a negative in my life. It has definitely shaped who I am. My unusual hips are not ‘who’ I am - but they are part of my story. Where I go, they go and so does their impact. And now I’m going to walk 100 miles of the South Downs Way – to see how far I can take my different walk – and my blog. I hope you enjoy reading about it. You can also follow this blog on Facebook @WalkingJill

Route 66? Finding my DDH rhythm at Devil’s Dyke.

By Jill Pringle August 18, 2019 In hip dysplasia, South Downs Way, Walking 0 devils dyke, fulking 0

Yesterday I made it to the 66-mile mark on the South Downs Way. I’m walking to raise awareness of hip dysplasia – a condition like over 1 in 1000 people that I was born with.

Over half-way. Looking back on our right to roam.

By Jill Pringle August 4, 2019 In hip dysplasia, South Downs Way, Walking 0 hip dysplasia, right to roam 0

One week after my most difficult walk, I was back in the Amberley valley feeling much more relaxed. This walk was to be an exciting one, because it took me past the half-way point of the South Downs Way.

Hip-py New Year!

By Jill Pringle December 31, 2018August 4, 2019 In hip dysplasia, Personal 1 hip displaysia, South Downs Way 1

Wow. What a year 2018 has been for me and my hips. I celebrated my Birthday three days ago, 47 years after I was born with hip dysplasia. This time last year I never imagined that I’d have walked a 10K race and 24.5 miles of the South Downs Way.

These hips weren’t made for walking

By Jill Pringle November 25, 2018August 4, 2019 In hip dysplasia, Personal, South Downs Way, surgery 1 AdultDDH, Buriton 0

JillPringle Hips Xray DDH hip displaysia

Yet here I am having just completed two more days and 12.5 miles walking my hips along the South Downs Way. I’m very grateful that I have the mobility, time and support to do so.