M.E., or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, is an illness affecting millions of people worldwide, and can cause headaches, hormonal imbalance, immunological problems, muscle weakness, intense pain, neurological and cognitive problems, and sleep problems. It's estimated to be twice as common as MS, with 250,000 people in the UK thought to have the condition...
"In fact the number is ever-growing in this modern epidemic" explains Karen Morris, who has severe M.E. "Yet a lack of biomedical research means there is no known cause or cure, so there's very little, if any, medical help or care for patients.
"The short amount of money that is given to research tends to focus controversially on psychology, a fact that M.E. patients at large have been campaigning about for decades" she adds.
Karen, a Salfordian, runs a Greater Manchester support group based in Salford and Trafford*, and has created a national feedback survey for patients with M.E. (CFS) via Healthwatch Trafford.**
Meawhile, her partner Stu Nimmo, who works in Salford, runs in loads of events to raise funds for a small unknown biomedical research charity, Invest in ME Research (IiME), which consists of unpaid volunteers who do important research work nationally, run training events for doctors and have set up a global research network.
Stu has taken part in the Great Manchester Run, the Salford 10k and the Manchester Half Marathon, helping to raise over £700. Next up is a sponsored trek to Machu Picchu in Peru, followed by a whole list of running events next year.
Now the couple are looking for people to run alongside Stu as part of an Invest in ME team, or who simply want to donate to the charity.
For further details see Stu's Facebook page click here
To donate see the Just Giving page click here
To read more about the Invest in ME Research charity click here
*To read more about Karen's support group click here
**To see more about the Healthwatch M.E. Survey click here
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