I am raising money for the ME Association in memory of my best friend, Stanley Stephens.

A couple of months ago, Stanley took his own life. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis played a huge part in that. It took over his life in ways that are hard to fully explain unless you have seen it up close.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, often called ME or CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), is a serious long term illness that affects the body’s energy systems. It can cause extreme exhaustion that does not improve with rest, along with pain, brain fog and severe worsening of symptoms after even small amounts of activity. In many cases it leaves people unable to work, study or live a normal life.

Stanley was the kindest person I knew. He was a genuinely gentle soul who loved being around people and socialising. That was a huge part of who he was. This illness took that away from him, piece by piece, until his world became smaller and more isolated.

This condition does not just affect the person living with it. It impacts their family, their friends and everyone around them. I saw firsthand how much it took from him and how much it continues to affect the people who cared about him.

I want to raise money to help fight this illness, to support those who are living with it and to support the families who are going through it alongside them. No one should feel trapped or alone because of a condition like this.

The ME Association is a UK charity that supports people affected by Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. They provide medical information, run a helpline, fund research into the illness and campaign for better care and understanding. Their work helps both those living with ME and the families around them, while also contributing to efforts to find effective treatments.

Anything you can give means a lot.