My best friend, Emily Gregg, suffered severely from this illness. I miss her and think of her everyday.

Emily was a happy, sociable and friendly person, who enjoyed the company of others. She felt strongly about environmental and social justice issues. She was a PC for the Hampshire constabulary.

Grief is an interesting process, which is very individual and personal. I don't think I will ever fully recover from Emily's passing. We would have been friends for nearly 20 years now. I thought that throughout my life, I would have her beside me, to confide with, to share experiences, to share life. When she was alive, we would finish each others sentences, know what the other needed and wanted, have lots of tea! and biscuits, go on adventures, usually camping.

Tragically, this is not to be and I find myself a lot on my own, wishing that she was here with me. When I feel overwhelmed or need a shoulder to cry on or I need to reach out to someone for help, advice, something to make me feel human. I find that I am empty.

Emily died on the 17th November 2014. It has taken me 5 years to pick up a paintbrush and start painting again this year. This was due to the shaking of my hands and the handling of paint, one of the last paintings that I had painted prior to the hiatus, was the tree of life, which is ironic, given, that actually it had previously up until this year represented death. I could not look at it for the 5 years, and I had not stepped into my studio as it took prominence due to the size of it. I have now changed my mind with a lot of reflection and it reminds me of freedom and creativity. Freedom for Emily in that she is now released from the illness and creativity for me as it is this that I was painting whilst given the news that would cause turmoil and heartache in me. At the time, I was painting it, I was in a positive place, a place where I could see my future being shaped by what I love, that of art and creativity.

Emily had always been a great supporter of my art and design, she believed in me and encouraged me to pursue this and to also share this with others.

This year, I have taken the leap back into painting and designing. I have developed a range of products, based on one of my flower paintings. The flower paintings, were inspired by people that I know and whom I paint flowers to represent them. With Emily, she is the daisy.

All the money raised on this page is in aid of ME Research UK. I believe that this is what Emily would like me to do as a remembrance of her, to combine my art and design and raising awareness of this illness.

I would like to thank you for the amazing donations to this fundraiser, it is greatly appreciated.

ME Research UK, will also be promoting this through their channels. I hope that you would also do the same and share with others.

All the best,

Mel Elston-Mendones

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