'Shropshire Fibromites'

“Supporting Sufferers, Families and Carers affected by Fibromyalgia & Other Chronic Pain Conditions”

“Raising Awareness and Bringing People Together to Promote Life Beyond Diagnoses.”

Everyone experiences pain at some point in their lives, whether it’s from a fall, toothache or broken bone. Each of these are short term and easily recoverable from. Now imagine going to bed healthy and waking up with pain that has no known cause, and which continues day after day with no respite. Only through many months of medical investigations, you find, that you are diagnosed with a Long Term Chronic Pain disorder, with which there is no cure but only management.

Fibromyalgia, EDS, CRPS, MS and Pompe, these are but a few of the Long Term Chronic Pain Conditions that people may suffer from and which ‘Shropshire Fibromites’ Support Group was set up to support.

Chronic Pain is debilitating as it impacts on everything you do on a daily basis, from the most basic of tasks like brushing your teeth to more demanding activities like socializing.

‘Shropshire Fibromites’ is a Self-help support group that brings people together to support, share experiences and form friendships that will enable them to live life to the fullest of their capabilities.

Three young men have decided to complete a mountain climb challenge in the Alps to help raise funds for ‘Shropshire Fibromites’ to enable them to continue with the life-line of support they offer.

All funds raised will be used to purchase ‘enabling’ and ‘pain relief’ equipment to meet individual needs on a loaning scheme within the group.

The Challenge will take place between 28th June 2018 and 3rd July 2018. Climbing to the summit of Mount Finsteraarhorn in the Bernese Alps, totaling 14,022ft.

Please read their story below: Written by Mark Wheeler.

“It has always been a dream of mine to climb a mountain over 4000 meters. In 2016 I had the chance with a close friend to make it a reality by climbing Finsteraarhorn at 4273 meters, unfortunately due to adverse weather conditions and being under prepared we failed to get above 3350 meters before we had no choice but to turn back. It was a devastating blow.”

“Now two years later we are going back to finish the task and reach the summit. With a new third member ‘Tim Johnson’ and with a much greater appreciation of the task ahead we know it’s our time.”

“The group consists of myself Mark Wheeler, the group leader and planner. Scarily I’m the most experienced mountain climber in the group with this being my fourth time in the Alps, not to mention climbing most of the highest peaks in the Uk. Jake Gilbert is the second team member, being a paratrooper for the past twelve years he is extremely fit with no fear. Jake has climbed with me in the Uk and has never backed down from a physical challenge (or stupid one come to it!). Tim Johnson is our third member and before Christmas 2017 had never climbed a mountain. Tim has since climbed some of the highest peaks in Wales with no issues and with losing over 4 stone in weight during a strict training schedule he’s ready for this next challenge”.

“To describe the group dynamics, we are on the face of it, just normal family men with wives, children, houses etc. it’s not until you dig a little deeper that you start to realise we are actually wired differently to most. I have the stupid and crazy ideas, Jake likes to add the danger element and Tim reins us in… but ultimately we still end up doing crazy stuff but perhaps a little more planned and calculated”.

“As a group we have achieved some amazing feats, both physically and mentally. This next challenge is no different, it will still test us and push us to new limits of endurance”.

“Mountaineering is never a certainty, weather can change dramatically within minutes as well as other risks factors, such as whiteouts, avalanches, rock fall, crevasses and so on. Climbing 45 degree slopes with 20kgs on your back for hours on end in freezing conditions is nothing less than pure suffering. It is only at this point, where your decisions and actions truly mean the difference between life and death that you begin to feel alive. You’re not thinking of the mortgage, work or family but only of that moment! your next move and your mates around you”.

“During the planning stage, we discussed raising money for a cause that was close to us geographically so that we could actually see the benefits first hand, but also one that was close to the heart. We decided to raise money for ‘Shropshire Fibromites’, a Shrewsbury based support group that was founded to support sufferers of long term chronic pain conditions”.

“My sister, Christine Morris, was diagnosed 10 years ago with Fibromyalgia and M.E. I have witnessed first-hand how debilitating these conditions are and how they have impacted on her quality of life, and on simple activities that the ‘normal’ person takes for granted i.e. Showering!!”

“My sister and fellow sufferer Fiona Howard decided to open a support group to help others who face life with ‘Chronic Pain’ providing a much needed life-line”.

“We felt that by completing a mountaineering challenge and pushing ourselves to the extreme of physical endurance, we would be able to appreciate the ‘pain’ and ‘fatigue’ that people like my sister endure daily…. This was the best challenge in honouring these people”.

“We owe it to all people, who suffer will Long Term Chronic Pain Conditions, to live life to the full, appreciating our full health and mobility. What better way to raise money for such a worthy cause than by doing just that!” … Living Life!

“We support ‘Shropshire Fibromites’ in their mission to ‘Support Sufferers and their families and in raising awareness, bringing people together to promote life beyond diagnoses”

Thank you for reading and for your support