Please help us to support people with ME and their families.

ME (Myalgic Encephalopathy), or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, blights the lives of 250,000 people in UK today. The smallest exertion can floor them; their joints and muscles ache unbearably; restful sleep eludes them; and ‘brain fog’ clouds their thinking. It changes lives drastically – disrupting study; making work impossible; and straining family relations to breaking point. Many sufferers cannot leave their homes. There is no known cure.

Darren and Adam are running the Great North Run to raise money for the ME Association and raise awareness around this devastating and still poorly resourced but common condition. It can affect anyone at any time of life- and although recovery can be possible there are significant challenges and obstacles often in the way.

In recent years our son Matthew, Adams older brother, now 21 has been severely affected, going from the healthiest and most physically and mentally active 16 year old you could imagine to develop mild initial symptoms following a severe bout of flu and pneumonia that progressed over time to the point he became house/bedbound 18 months ago. He/we have worked so hard to understand this complex illness and although he remains severely disabled there HAS been significant recovery in several areas over the last 6 months which we hope and believe will continue; most importantly to him he has found ways to engage with and create music again which has given meaning back to his life and allowed him to learn how to make progress in a more effective way and understand, predict and be able to be in better control of his symptoms- extremely difficult to do but key to any degree of recovery.

Sue; As a GP of 20+ years I thought I was well informed about ME but it turns out I knew NOTHING and was actually very badly equipped to help in the early stages. I can honestly say to my regret I have learned everything important about the condition from Matthew himself and can clearly see now why so many people struggle to manage and recover.

But there is absolutely hope out there – charities such as the MEA and private support organisations have long since been ahead of NHS services and have a wealth of knowledge, resources and support for those affected and their families and carers. And the NHS is definitely catching up.

We need more research, more education, better resources, including those for housebound individuals, but a great starting point would be a commitment to learn about this condition and understand what makes it so challenging. #PEM a good place to start.

If you are able to donate to this invaluable support organisation and or take time to read a little about the condition and offer empathy and support to those you will almost certainly come across in life who are affected, It will make a huge difference.

Thank you so much

Sue, Darren, Matthew and Adam Blake

PS links below to Matthew’s music released so far and Instagram with updates re music and ME !

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0JfplJ5ke06B0rUvT9E4Xe?si=3VX21ePtS_if_ivWE_8vgg

https://instagram.com/matty.blake15?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==