As some of you may be aware my sister Danielle has been diagnosed with ME. In order to increase awareness of this illness I am arranging a bike ride around the profesional rugby clubs in the North West, the plan is simple if you have a bike get on it and we will follow the route below stopping off at the following stadiums.

Start: Wigan Warrior, Leigh Centurians (8.4 miles), Salford City Reds (9.6 miles), Warrington Wolves (12.1 miles), Widnes Vikings (6.7 miles), St. Helens (7.5 Miles) and then back to Wigan (9.7 miles). 54 miles total

If you are interested and up to the challenge then please contact me through atherton86@googlemail.com

ME stands for Myalgic Encephalopathy which effects around 250,000 in the UK. The symptoms of this have a massive range and include severe and debilitating fatigue, painful muscles and joints, disordered sleep, gastric disturbances, poor memory and concentration are commonplace. In many cases, onset is linked to a viral infection. Other triggers may include an operation or an accident, although some people experience a slow, insidious onset.

In some the effects may be minimal but in a large number, lives are changed drastically: in the young, schooling and higher education can be severely disrupted; in the working population, employment becomes impossible for many. For all, social life and family life become restricted and in some cases severely strained. People may be housebound or confined to bed for months or years.

There is currently no accepted cure and no universally effective treatment. Those treatments which have helped reduce particular symptoms in some people have unfortunately proved ineffective or even counterproductive in others. An early diagnosis together with adequate rest during the acute phase and during any relapse appear to bring the most significant improvement.

For more information please go to http://www.meassociation.org.uk/

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR GENEROSITY