The challenge: Oscar is going to walk 250,000 steps to raise funds for the ME Association. He's going to track his steps over the weeks and months it takes for him to hit that goal, and we'll keep everyone updated on how he's doing along the way. 

The idea for this came from another person with ME, Alison Woodland, who walked 250,000 steps in 2016. I am nowhere near able to do such a challenge myself, so Oscar has decided to do it for me! I shall be joining him on as many of the walks as I can in Bertha, my wheelchair.

We haven't set a deadline for hitting the 250,000 steps, we're just going to keep going on walks until he hits the target!

Oscar's Story

Hi, my full name is Oscar James Daniel Shortman. I feel that being unable to recover from a condition is terrible, especially if those conditions mean that you're unable to do regular things. 

I have Autism which is a disability that causes stress in social interactions, however, I still made friends at school and I am friendly to people who help others despite my mental disability. I also have ADHD which stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, which means it's hard for me to concentrate on one thing, but there is also an H in ADHD which stands for hyperactive, this means it's hard to stand still. 

This is a very big challenge, but I feel like I can do it no matter what, because I'm willing to support the ME Association. 

Amanda's Story

I've been aware of ME since my teens (in the 90s) when my mum was diagnosed with it. However despite seeing her suffer from it, *nothing* could have prepared me for the reality of what ME is like. 

I've been chronically ill for most of my life with various issues, but it was only when I developed ME following a virus in 2015 that my life ground to a halt. My health got worse over several months, until I ended up being signed off sick in 2016. I tried to work freelance from home in 2017, but by 2018 I was unable to do anything like that. 

We've had to move into a bungalow as I could no longer manage stairs. I've become dependent on my wife to care for me. And in my "2020 year from hell" I ended up completely bedbound for several months, stuck in a darkened room unable to tolerate any stimuli.

I've gradually returned to a more moderate level of ME since, still spending the vast majority of my time resting in bed, but able to get out once in a while in my wheelchair or with a crutch if we're not moving far. But I am still incredibly limited.

The worst part for me is that I fell ill with ME when Oscar was just 3 years old. He's 11 now and we have both missed out on so many things during his childhood. Which is why I am so excited that he wants to undertake this challenge with and for me. 

It would mean the world to both of us if you could sponsor him, no matter how small your donation (we know money is tight right now!) Every little bit helps to support a charity that does so much for the ME Community. 


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