Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I have been asked what I would like for my 40th birthday,  There are lots of things that I would like but nothing that I really need :o)  I was very excited today when I read that researchers have found a link between ME and the retrovirus XMRV (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8298529.stm).  If the results of this research lead to diagnostic tests (at least) or a cure it would give hope to so many sufferers and their families.  Those of you who have known me for a long time know that I was ill with ME for several years when I was in my twenties.  When I was ill I talked to a friend (who also had ME) and we wondered why we never met anyone who had recovered.  Now I know that when you recover you don't want to remember how bad it was but a news story does bring all the memories back.  ME has shaped my life and although I have recovered I know my Iimits and still feel that I need to be careful.

When people tell me about friends or family that have been diagnosed with ME I feel very sad and still don't really know what to suggest that can help.  ME is not a terminal disease but it is not easy to live with an illness that has no real diagnosis and no real cure.  Currently a diagnosis of ME consists of eliminating other health problems.  Many sufferers then end up spending money on various different alternative medicines (with varying degrees of success) in the hope of finding a cure.  This news will have given anyone with ME hope but more research is needed.  I would so love to hear of a cure, it would be a great birthday present :o)

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Thank you for your generosity,

Love Catherine x