General News
8 September, 2024
Peddling for Pain Revolution
This September, Rev James Wood - our local Anglican Priest and cycling enthusiast - has been invited to participate in the Pain Revolution Outreach Tour 2024 rolling out of Mt Gambier on the September 14 and arriving a week later in Horsham September 21.
It will be a one-of-a-kind cycling experience that combines physical challenge, community service, awareness raising and education, aligning with Pain Revolution’s vision that, “all Australians have the knowledge, skills and access to local support to prevent and overcome persistent pain.”
"There is no doubt that chronic pain is crippling rural and regional Australia," Pain Revolution founder and CEO Professor Lorimer Moseley AO said.
"However, our understanding of chronic pain and how to treat it has been transformed over the last 25 years.
"High quality tailored education and graded activity is the best treatment for chronic pain.”
An initiative of the University of South Australia, Pain Revolution seeks to help Australians connect to services, health professionals and community initiatives that assist those challenged by chronic pain, not only to manage their pain but also to move towards recovery.
Rev James is super excited about the opportunity to be involved.
“In so many of my interactions with people across our region, there are a variety of factors that contribute to people’s pain," Rev James said.
"It is either something that people feel embarrassed talking about or in some cases people cannot stop talking about.
"I am very keen to educate myself in how I can make a contribution towards recovery for sufferers of chronic pain, and offer my own skills and personal experience through my unique role within the community.”
As a cycling enthusiast, Rev. James is also looking forward to the challenge of the ride.
“There is no doubt that riding approximately 750kms during the week will challenge my own pain threshold physically.
"As the old adage goes, ‘a pain shared is a pain halved’ - and this will certainly ring true with the other 20 participants on the ride, who will travel from around Australia, and several from around the world.”
Part of the challenge also includes fundraising for the Local Pain Educator Program.
This long-term capacity building initiative equips health professionals with advanced understanding and skills in pain science, education and care, and then, supports them in establishing a Local Pain Collective.
This collective is designed to embed knowledge and skills about best practice pain care in rural communities.
There will be a series of free community events throughout the Outreach Tour that will help explain the science of why we hurt.
These events are designed for anyone interested in learning more about their own pain or those they care for.
They will be engaging and educational, casting a vision for how local people and healthcare professionals can positively impact pain outcomes in their community.
There will also be two unique one-day workshops for healthcare professionals during the tour.
The Mount Gambier Painfest on September 14, and the Horsham Pain Skillsfest on September 21.
You can find more information about the events at https://www.painrevolution.org/tour If you would like more information.
To make a donation towards Rev James’ efforts you can contact him directly on 0438 233 630 or email him at jameswildechidna@gmail.com, or via https://2024-pain-revolution-rural-outreach-tour.raisely.com/donate
Contributed by Rev. James Wood