As a major sponsor of this year’s 120 Challenge, Tap. Health is doing more than backing the campaign financially, they’re also creating a powerful way to bring people together and spark conversation about endometriosis.
Tap. Health is inviting 120 people to their headquarters in Tauranga to paint part of a large canvas divided into 120 individual squares. Each square is a visual representation of a person’s endometriosis journey, the support they receive or the emotions the condition evokes. Together, the squares will form a collective artwork representing the 120,000 people in Aotearoa living with endometriosis.
“The 120-square canvas really stood out to us as a way of taking people’s feelings and expression of endometriosis (whether they are personally affected or know someone who is) and making that into something beautiful that resembles community collectiveness,” says Tap. Health Co-Founder and Operator Maxine Lindsay.
“I give full credit for the idea to our newest staff member, Emily!”
A personal connection
For Maxine, supporting the 120 Challenge is deeply personal.
“I realised in my early 20’s that endo and period pain could either define me for the worse, or for the better, and I chose the latter. Starting Tap. Health nearly 6 years ago was a chance for me to take my life experience and use it to create something good for the community.”
“Life with endometriosis forces you to know yourself deeply and that is something that will serve you. There is a positive in facing something that causes you to get comfortable with advocating for your needs and your health, you will need this your whole life anyway.”
“No matter how hard things get you will learn you are stronger than you ever knew you could be.”
Canvas contributors up for prizes
Endometriosis is often invisible and it can be extremely isolating for those living with it. Through its 120 Challenge, Tap. Health hopes to create something visible, collaborative and impossible to ignore.
To further encourage participation, each of the 120 contributors to the canvas will be entered into a draw for various prizes including a Tap 2.0 TENS device, vouchers, subscriptions and merchandise.
At the end of the campaign, the completed artwork will be auctioned as part of Endometriosis New Zealand’s Awareness Month online auction, with the proceeds going to help fund endometriosis education, advocacy and support services.
About Tap. Health
Tap. Health was founded with a mission to improve access to drug-free pain management solutions. Their flagship product, Tap 2.0 TENS, is designed to provide discreet, wearable pain relief and help people to stay active and engaged in daily life.
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) sends small electrical pulses through the skin to the underlying nerves. This can help reduce the intensity of pain signals being transmitted to your brain and ease your perception of the pain. Additionally, tap. can stimulate your body’s natural production of endorphins, your own pain-relieving chemicals.
For many living with endometriosis, tools like TENS therapy forms part of a broader pain management toolkit alongside other forms of specialist care.
120 Challenge – promoting your stories and turning them into action
Endometriosis affects an estimated 120,000 people in Aotearoa New Zealand, yet awareness, diagnosis, and access to effective treatment pathways remain ongoing challenges.
Through the 120 Challenge, individuals and groups across the country are committing to doing something ‘120-themed’ from physical challenges, such as running 120km or walking 120,000 steps to creative projects, like Tap. Health’s. The goal is to raise the funds necessary to help support those living with endometriosis in Aotearoa.
“Supporting the 120 Challenge feels incredibly meaningful,” Maxine says. “It’s a beautiful way to bring people together, raise awareness and support Endometriosis New Zealand who are the main hub for people experiencing endometriosis.”
How You Can Get Involved
You can donate to ‘Tap. health TENS Team’ at here. or any of our other amazing ‘Challengers’ at here.
If you want to take on a challenge yourself then the 120 Challenge is open to everyone and every effort helps support people living with endometriosis across New Zealand. Go to the 120 Challenge.