"It's ok, we all feel a bit tired from time to time"

Words you don't want to hear when you suffer from ME.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is an invisible illness. Invisible because it is almost impossible to diagnose. Invisible because it is almost impossible to cure. And invisible because of the millions who are missing.

ME affects an estimated 250,000 people in the UK alone, a significant minority of whom are bedbound. Symptoms include chronic pain, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbance and extreme fatigue. 

My girlfriend, Rachel, is the strongest person I know. She developed ME seven years ago following a bout of flu, and spent the best part of ten months in bed trying to recover. Today she has good days and she has bad days. The good days a few and far between, and the bad days, well I just hate the bad days. She is the most hard working and driven person I know, and the lack of hyphen in the previous sentence is going to wind her up no end. She is also a world champion Irish Dancer. The frustrations she has had to endure of the continued exhaustion, her body refusing to do what her mind wants it to do, and her mind refusing to do what her job requires it to do...I don't know how she manages it.

Research into diagnosis, treatment and understanding of ME is grossly underfunded. So here's what I plan to do...

Over the past few years, in the name of charity and for want of a more sensible hobby, I cycled the length and breadth of the country, climbed mountains, ran an ultramarathon, and competed in the Ironman. From now on, I will be raising money for the ME association, who fundraise for research into the causes of, and treatments for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, as well as trying to raise awareness for the condition.

Starting with an Ironman70.3 in Weymouth this September, which involves swimming 1.2miles, cycling 56miles and then topping it all off with a 13.1mile run to finish!

I will be adding new challenges to this page as an ongoing project...(I already have something lined up for next year)...and any suggestions or wild ideas will be welcomed!

I would really appreciate your support in the form of donations, advice, words of encouragement, bags of jelly babies...

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.