<p>I'm running the Cardiff half marathon in support of ME Research UK - a charity which is dear to my heart as a close family member (see picture above with the kids and who also happens to be my namesake) has been suffering from ME for over 15 years now. &nbsp;<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">She is housebound and if she exceeds her limited 'energy ration' even by having&nbsp;</span>visitors longer than an hour or so, she relapses with flu symptoms and pain and&nbsp;<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">it takes days, weeks or even months to recover her former energy levels, during&nbsp;</span>which time she cannot have visitors at all. &nbsp;25% of ME sufferers are severely&nbsp;<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">affected, including children, who miss out on so much. &nbsp;The neurological illness&nbsp;</span>ME is not simply fatigue.</p> <p>Any donation which you can spare will be very much appreciated and will help the charity's aim of commissioning and funding biomedical research into the causes, consequences and treatment of ME.&nbsp;</p> <p>Now the more technical bit! Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer.</p> <p>Thanks so much for coming to my page - I hope you can spare some money for this cause and do think of me on 16th October!&nbsp;</p> <p>Thank you!</p> <p>Veronica&nbsp;</p>