EDIT: NEW TARGET! Given the unbelievable support we’ve received in our first month of our challenge, we’ve smashed our expectations and hit our target already! So, seeing as we’re only 1/3 of the way through our total distance, we thought we’d aim a little bit higher! So our new target is now £3669 - £1 per kilometre! Thank you to everyone that’s donated so far, we will never be able to thank you enough for the support you’ve given us all. - Jake, Ian, Paul, Chris Rich, Matt and Dan.

Thank you for taking the time to view our JustGiving page.

We are aiming to raise awareness of the terrible chronic illness M.E. (also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or CFS) by running and cycling the virtual length of Route 66, totalling 2280 miles (or 3669km if you prefer!). A team of seven, will attempt to collectively reach this distance within 90 days, starting on March 1^st, finishing on Sunday 30^th of May 2021. 

While we’re at it, we’re also hoping to raise some funds for the critical work of ActionForME, a charity that is very close to our hearts. We’re hoping to raise £2280, so £1 per mile, which will go directly to ActionForME to help fund one-to-one support services for adults, young people and families with M.E. / CFS as well as ongoing biomedical research.

What is Route 66?

U.S. Route 66 was one of the original highways in the United States, running from Chicago to Santa Monica (Los Angeles Country), spanning 8 different states and three different time zones. The distance is equivalent to the length of the UK – twice! We’ll be tracking our progress through the Conqueror Events app, so we’ll be able to share some virtual highlights as we make our way along the route. As a bonus, a tree will be planted for every 20% of the route we complete too! 

Why M.E./ CFS ?

We have witnessed first-hand, the devastating impact that M.E. can have on a person’s life, as one of our closest friends contracted the illness in 2011. We’ve watched their struggle for almost a decade now. While we cannot directly help in our friend’s recovery, we have collectively decided that we want to show them, and all others inflicted with this dreadful chronic illness that they do not have to suffer in silence with this misunderstood condition. 

The common assumption is that M.E. / CFS is purely related to tiredness. This is simply not the case. Alongside the symptoms highlighted below, M.E. can cause the onset of other mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression which only exacerbates the symptoms of M.E. further. We want to raise awareness of M.E. and CFS so that it becomes further understood, is not swept under the carpet, and further research can be carried out to understand how we can identify and treat the symptoms more effectively.

What is M.E. / CFS ?

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a long-term, fluctuating, neurological condition that causes symptoms affecting many body systems, more commonly the nervous and immune systems. M.E. affects an estimated 250,000 people in the UK, and around 17 million people worldwide.

People with M.E. / CFS experience debilitating pain, fatigue and a range of other symptoms associated with post-exertional malaise, the body and brain’s inability to recover after expending even small amounts of energy.

Not everyone will experience the same symptoms so it's important not to compare someone who has M.E. to another person who has the illness. People with M.E. can vary enormously in their experience of the illness, and also how long their symptoms last. Some make good progress and may recover, while others can remain ill for a number of years and may not get better. Some people find that they don’t go back completely to the way they felt before they became ill, but they do recover sufficiently to lead happy and fulfilling lives. 

If you’d like more information, you can access the Action for M.E. website at;     https://www.actionforme.org.uk

Thank you for taking the time to read our page, and we appreciate any donation, no matter how small, in our battle against this awful illness.

Jake, Ian, Paul, Dan, Chris, Rich and Matt.