Running 10k for my friend.

On September 27th I'm going to be running the Taunton 10k, this isn't just about finshing a race - its about running the race for someone who can't.

I'm aiming to raise money for ME research UK, inspired by my childhood best friend who has recently been diagnosed with ME

We've been best friends since day 1 and I cannot remember life without her. She has been struggling for a while now but has only recently been diagnosed. Over these months I have watched this vibrant, ambitious girl have everything taken away from her by an illness which needs to be better understood.

At just 14 years old, she has had to deal with a condition that has a significant impact on day to day life. She is so incredibly strong and takes everything in her stride but i see the way the lack of awarness and understanding affects her.

ME is ofen labled as just 'feeling tired' or 'having no energy' but it is so much more than that. Its fighting your own body every single day, its not being able to do tasks that we as able bodied people take for granted and it is most certainly not laziness.

Shes has asked me to live my life twice as much for her every month she can't, so I'm starting off with the Taunton 10k with her and the other 24 million sufferers in mind.

Every penny raised will go towards finding causes, treatments and eventually a cure, which is all a step closer to giving people their lives back.

I would be so grateful for any support you can give, whether that's sponsoring me, sharing this page with family & friends or simply learning a little bit more about ME to break the stereotypes and to make those out there feel a little less alone

Thankyou- Ime

EXTRA INFO;

This is an ilness which impacts 24 million lives, leaving many bed bound or unable to move. The quality of life scale shows us that people suffering with severe ME (estimated to be 25% of ME sufferers) have a worse quality of life than people with type 2 diabetes and late stage cancers. Yet until now there has been extremley little research done, there is no cure, no proven treatment and limited funding to change that.

Just because someone with ME looks okay dosent mean they are, for someone with ME a day of 'looking fine' or 'acting okay' almost always results in a long lasting exhaustion wich rest cannot fix, also known as crashes. ME patients also deal withh constant pain, weakness, sleep that never fixes, heart rate changes and extreme sensitivity to senses.

The emotional toll is just as bad, sufferers experience overwhelming greif for their past lives and identitys, along with constant anxiety, guilt and helplesness - which is understanibly made worse when nobody really understands.

If you would like to read more on ME you can visit:

-ME research uk, my chosen charity, who provide clear science, recent research, and reliable facts on causes symptoms and treatments.

-ME association, providing comprehensive guides, free downloads, symptom breakdowns and practical advice.

-Action for ME, storys on lived experience, support, and easy to understand explinations

Spending just 5-10 minutes reading up on one of these websites makes a change, anything helps!