My daughter Fran is 36 and has severe ME and Long Covid. She has been bed/bedroom bound for nearly 4 years, suffering every day with severe debilitating symptoms. As a key carer I am witness to the pain and suffering that ME causes, and the subsequent lack of medical care and treatment due to misunderstanding and inadequate research. ME research is woefully underfunded compared to other debilitating or life-threatening illnesses.This is why I’m raising money for the UK charity. I’m asking that you donate anything you can - the equivalent of a cup of coffee or a beer to support us.

My task is to complete a series of hills in the Peak District called the ‘Ethels’. These are hills over 400 metres and there are 95 in total. So far I have ran/walked 9, so we have a way to go!

ME is a serious, debilitating neuro-immune disease affecting over 400,000 people in the UK, with cases increasing since the Covid pandemic. It disproportionately affects women. Approximately 25% of these cases are severely affected like Fran and symptoms are severe, including intolerance of light, sound, touch and human presence. Some cannot tolerate food and are tube fed requiring 24/7 nursing care.

You may not know this but…

There are no NHS specialist services - No consultants, no facilities and no approved treatments for those with severe ME.`

Many professionals do not know how to manage the illness and believe it to be psychological - despite national clinical guidelines stating it is not.

The only treatments recommended in the past have now been found to be harmful to sufferers

20% of deaths of ME Patients are through suicide due to extremely poor quality of life and healthcare neglect.

The Peak District is a favourite place of Fran’s and we used to go there fell running. I’m completing the Ethels for all those who love the outdoors and nature who are too sick to leave their home.