The story remains unchanged as below. I am still raising funds for my dear friend Alice Pinder who has had ME for a long time. 

The update is Alice has deteriorated considerably recently. Alice feels like her world is getting smaller and smaller. She was hoping to join in meeting friends she worked with years ago recently but this hasn't been possible. Alice explains her Mum needs to again help her wash her hair. Alice never complains but her world is becoming smaller. I have an unfounded fear of driving on the A1/M1 and I need to do this so I can visit Alice in her "smaller world".

People with ME have become known as the "Missing Millions". They are basically missing from society due to this chronic, debilitated illness. ME remains misdiagnosed, under funded and under advertised. The saddest thing of all due to the under funding is a cure still hasn't been found. It breaks my heart to think that due to no fault of her own Alice's life is not the way it should be. It could happen to any one of us or our family and friends at any time.

If you could please donate just £1 (less than your morning cup of coffee) it would be so gratefully appreciated; not only by me but by Alice, her supportive family and the "Missing Millions".

My Story:-

My friend Alice had glandular fever when she just turned 18. She was diagnosed with ME when she was 19 and she is now 29.  Alice says "ME has taken away what are supposed to be the best years of your life".

If Alice wants to go out to a family event she has to rest for a few days beforehand. She then has to recuperate for days afterwards. 

I worked with Alice just prior to her ME diagnosis. She was a fun loving, outgoing teenager with the rest of her life before her. She is now more or less house bound due to ME. She hasn't been able to do all the things she should have done in the last 10 years (being young, single and carefree, meeting her future husband, getting married, starting a family); the list goes on.

Alice is one of the bravest and most positive people I know, however, while we've been communicating for this event she told me she used to put posts on Instagram about her illness but hasn't done that lately and "it's as if I've given up the fight".

Alice asked that I try and get across how misunderstood/downplayed ME is and also the desperation for funding for research. I don't know how I can do this but you can help by donating to my Just Giving page. Any amount, however small, will be gratefully received on behalf of Alice, whose life is on hold indefinitely and sufferers just like her via ME Research UK. 

Thank you.