Public support needed to help ME and FM groups’

Reading Chronicle 30 November 2007

Support groups which have joined forces to campaign for improvements to ME and Fibromyalgia services in Berkshire are now appealing to the public for their help.

The Reading Area ME Support Group, the West Berkshire ME and FM Group and the Reading Fibromyalgia Support Group, believe that an increase in public support will really make a difference to their campaign.

They have organised a petition as well as encouraging people to write to their MPs to ask them to ensure that appropriate provisions are made for the diagnosis, management and treatment of ME and FM on the NHS within Berkshire.

Eileen Shoosmith from the Reading Area ME Support Group said: “We have been campaigning for ME and FM services in Berkshire for a number of years now and we have not got any”.

“Clinics have been set up in other areas of the country however, but our Primary Care Trust was not successful so it is important that we gain as much local support for the services as possible in order to help back the PCT when they next try again”.

“The services we are campaigning to get set up are vital and will go a long way to offering relief to those people living with either of the conditions”.

The groups held talks with the Berkshire West Primary Care Trust last month with regards to restarting the pilot service for ME and FM sufferers that fell through earlier in the year due to staff shortages.

Commissioners from the PCT will soon meet the groups to discuss the possible future services as well as liaising with Berkshire East PCT who are currently involved in a Needs Assessment of the area.

ME (Myalgic Encephalopathy), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is a neurological and multi-system condition characterised by a host of symptoms including extreme fatigue and muscle or join pain.

Fibromyalagia Syndrome is also a neurological condition with very similar symptoms although muscle or joint pain is usually the most dominant.

There are in estimated 1,000 – 2,000 people suffering from ME in Berkshire as well as 3,500 – 22,500 Fibromyalagia sufferers.

To get involved in the campaign, please click here, thanks.

Call for ME Services

Reading Chronicle 18th October 2007

Reading Area ME Support Group, will be speaking about a campaign to get Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME Services in Berkshire.

The presentation will take place, at the West Berkshire ME and FM group Awareness Event tomorrow (Friday).

In addition to several talks,there will be information stalls, crafts and refreshments.

A petition will also be launched, to try to improve services, for sufferers of ME and FM.

The event is at 4pm. in the Baptist Church Hall, Cheap Street, Newbury.

Its all about M.E

Reading Chronicle - 27th September 2007

A world M.E and Fibromyalgia prayer and meditation day, has been launched to encourage members of the public, across the country to take time out, and think about sufferers, between midday and 12.30pm, on the first Monday of each month.

Details of the day, can be found on the Reading Areas' ME Groups' support new blog.

A score to settle

Reading Chronicle 13th September 2007

A singer-songwriter whose music has helped her cope with ME is celebrating
success in a national competition. Sam Shearsmith, of West Reading, finished
in the top 20 of The UK Songwriting Contest with Life's Like This.

She said: "It is about my experiences, having to keep going and how life is
like a roller coaster. I was diagnosed with ME in 2002 and singing has been
my lifeline. It was amazing to do so well in my first competition especailly
as there were 5,000 entrants."

The 35-year-old, who lives off Oxford Road, began singing in 2005 and has
produced a three track demo. She said: "Having ME has given me time to think
about what I wanted to do. I was feeling very isolated but focusing on music
and teaching myself the guitar has really helped me through it.

To begin with I was so lonely and it's given me something to look forward
to."

Sam was forced to give up working as a nanny when she was diagnosed but she
is now writing new material. She hopes to set up a studio at her home and to
get some gig dates.

To hear Sam's music visit My Space
To find out more about ME visit ME Association

Intrepid quartet tackle Monster Challenge in bid to raise £1000.00

Reading Chronicle 6th September 2007


Four Reading Men, took a Monster Challenge, around Loch Ness, to raise money for victims of ME.

John Drummond, Mark Shoosmith, Matt Jordan, and Chris Cox, joined 250 teams, from across the country in a 10K run and a 20K cycle, around the Scottish shores on Sunday, as part of the First Monster Challenge.

The men who work together at the Reading based, Transportation Claims, which is part of the transport company First Direct, I hoping to raise £1000.00 for charity.

They are collecting cash for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Foundation, which carries out research into CFS/ME, as both Mark and Chris' mothers suffer from the condition.

They are also supporting the National Society Association for Colitis and Crohns' Disease UK, because Matts' girlfriend is battling the disease.

Chris 23, who lives in Mallory Avenue, Caversham said "It was nice supporting something, that is close to our hearts".

"It was certainly a challenge. Neither of these charities, seem to be well known, but there are a lot of people, who suffer from both illnesses. They could do with a bit of a profile.