Walk for ME

[*elphaba*]

Some of you know that my sister has ME/CFS. 

I'm joining in the Walk for ME during ME/CFS awareness week (6-12th May)  to raise money for biomedical ME research.    For too long this disease has been misdiagnosed, mistreated and sidelined, and misunderstood by the general public.  

I'm walking as much to banish ignorance about the condition as I am to raise money  so would be grateful if people just read the below (I'll put it in the first post to avoid a huge OP).     

I won't put the link, but I have a Just Giving page which can be found on the site as 'page for Bev and Nim' and perhaps if after reading you feel so moved to pop over there.....well, I'd be grateful. 

[*elphaba*]

Just about all in one piece 😄    No blisters, but boy do I ache!

I'll pic out some of the more interesting pics : 

[*elphaba*]

This is the rather swollen ford.  I was meant to go up those steps that were about 18 inches under water.  I took a small detour 😄

[*elphaba*]

Bridge over the river Chelmer (of the chelmer and blackwater canal fame)  which was interesting to cross as it has a kind of style either end with a concrete step to help you over a metal bar.

[*elphaba*]

More later as Bev and my Dad are still here.   I'll see about loading to PB to make things easier.   For FB people  elpha ba has a public album of all the pics 😉

Off for some dinner!

[huggles1253]

Did we pay when we signed up or do we do it now?

[borzoi369]

Love that little bridge in your first post - reminds me of a Pooh stick bridge 🙂

[mandymoosie]

Big congratulations elph 😄

The pictures are beautiful, what lovely views and sights to see while you were walking 😄

Be proud of the lovely thing that you done today for all of the sufferers of ME/CFS :-x

[rainydaywoman11]

Congratulations to you Elph - well done :-x

[ilove2patch]

Lovely pictures Elph. It must have been lovely out there today.:-) Well done.:-)

[*elphaba*]

I feel like I've been hit by a truck :_|      Nothing overally strained, just fatigued.  Pretty much like ME and Fibromyalgia sufferers have everyday I'd guess.

Doesn't help I had to go to one of my cleaning jobs this morning - fortunately the easier one. I wasn't going to let her down.

Currently loading a PB album which is taking its sweet time, but then anyone who is interested can see the full lot including with luck a couple of videos that I took to try and give my sister the experience of it. 

[*elphaba*]

http://s26.photobucket.com/user/elphaba-fundraising/library/Walk%20for%20ME%202013?sort=2&page=1

I just nope next year they don't decide to do bungee jump for ME 

Thank you all, once again.  This has given my sister a huge boost and hopefully has done some wider good   :-x

[captainbovine]

lovely place to do your sponsored walk elph...I liked the videos too, where you on your own? didn't seem to be many others in your pics.

[*elphaba*]

Yup, I was on my tod - which is how I like it, to be honest.  Can do things at my own pace that way.

All the Walk for ME participents (all over the World) were able to do their own thing, ideally sometime during this week (6th-12th May) which is ME awareness week.   Many are still going, so the group total is still climbing.

It didn't have to very gruelling (although some have chosen to test themselves) just the point was that even a walk to the corner shop can be beyond someone with ME (as it may be for many other ailments, but ME sufferers have uniquely had little understanding or help) 

I did just over 5 miles I think, which doesn't sound like much but under my circumstances was enough.   Next year I hope to be able to choose a bigger challenge, but this one has done what I hoped it would - boost my sister and our friend and give them the feeling that the tide is turning at last and more people are on their side. 

Rather hope they don't choose 'jump out of a plane for ME'  next year 😮