Join Me in the Fight Against M.E.

I am running the Manchester Marathon on 27th April 2025 to raise awareness and support for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.), and for the estimated 1.3 million people in the UK who are battling this devastating illness.

What is M.E.?

M.E. is a chronic debilitating condition that affects many systems in the body. Symptoms include profound fatigue that is unlike normal tiredness, cognitive difficulties (‘brain fog’) and difficulty sleeping. Severe M.E. sufferers often experience constant pain, headaches, nausea, digestive problems, and hypersensitivity to light, sound and other stimuli.

Around a quarter of those with M.E. are so severely affected that they are housebound or bedbound. They can be completely reliant on caregivers for everyday tasks, such as using the bathroom or eating, and some even need to be tube-fed.

Unfortunately, the healthcare provided to these patients is shockingly poor, and many remain without the support they desperately need. In the most severe cases, M.E. can even be fatal, and there is currently no known cure.

I was deeply saddened when I learned about the story of Alice, who is my brother’s partner’s younger sister.

Alice’s Story

Alice was a vibrant and energetic child until she fell ill with chickenpox at the age of eight, followed by glandular fever a few years later. After that, she developed post-viral fatigue and, at just 12 years old, she was diagnosed with M.E.

Alice went to bed at age 12; she is now 20 years old, still bedridden and lives in darkness 24/7.

Alice is hypersensitive to light, sound, touch, taste, smell, and vibration. Her body is in constant pain, and she suffers from numerous debilitating symptoms which fluctuate throughout the day and night. Her body is so sensitive that few pain medications work. Tragically, no NHS hospital in the country will treat a very severe M.E. patient, due to a lack of understanding about the illness, leaving the patients, carers and families feeling frightened and abandoned.

Alice is desperate to live her life with her family. Alice is so ill that she cannot even bear visits from her siblings, knowing only too well that it will worsen her condition. She can only tolerate brief visits from her father to say goodnight. Her mother is her full-time caregiver, while friends and extended family members have long since moved on.

Why I’m Running

I am committed to running this marathon to raise essential funds for biomedical research into this chronic illness. We must work together to improve the lives of those affected by M.E. and bring hope for a brighter future. Your support can make a real difference.

Why support M.E. Research UK

ME Research UK exists to fund high-quality biomedical research into ME/CFS – to find its cause, to develop effective treatments, and ultimately to discover a cure.

Thanks wholly to the support of donors, to date ME Research UK have provided over £4 million of funding for more than sixty research projects around the world, but there is still much more to do. (https://www.meresearch.org.uk/research/our-projects/)