15 August 2011
A summary of recent M.E. related stories in the news. Headlines appearing in the media as dated.
Try living just one day with a disability
Corina Duyn, who has M.E., says that living with a disability and using a wheelchair or mobility scooter changes your perspective on life forever. She proposes a national day of disability awareness, where MPs and citizens have to experience one day as a disabled person to learn about the challenges they face.
The Journal, online
http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/column-when-living-with-a-disability-ireland-is-a-different-country/
31/07/11
Biobank will be invaluable for M.E. research
Action for M.E., the ME Association and ME Research UK and a private donor have come together to fund a biobank for M.E. to improve the understanding of M.E. Initially, blood samples will be collected from a group of patients currently enrolled in the M.E./CFS Disease Register, including people who are severely affected and bedbound. In the longer term other people who have been diagnosed with M.E. will be able to donate blood samples too.
East Anglian Daily Times (EA Life), p 6
13/08/11
Local business helps charity
Hurstpierpoint charity remember has been offered an office at low rent by local business Regency Financial Resources Ltd, enabling it to reduce costs and free up more funds to help patients.
Mid Sussex Times, p 13
11/08/11
Isolation from friends and school hard to cope with
Grace Bunch, 16, has had M.E. since she was 12 following a bout of glandular fever. The hardest thing to cope with his been the isolation from her friends, school and social life, says her mother.
Dorking Advertiser, p 13
11/08/11
Researcher receives threats
Prof Simon Wessely says that he now scans his mail after receiving death threats for his psychiatric research into M.E.
The Week, p 17
13/08/11
Threats to scientists
Blogger Steve Lowe recalls the correspondence he received after writing a column a few years ago suggesting M.E. was the new back pain, and discusses the recent story that some scientists have been intimidated for their psychological-based research into the illness.
Stevenage Advertiser, p 9
10/08/11
Offensive and mean-spirited
In a letter to the editor, Kate John writes to complain about Steve Lowe’s column ‘ME sufferers’ threats are no way to gain our sympathy,’ saying that he “lumps all M.E. sufferers together, painting an entirely fictional picture of every M.E. sufferer in the country standing in the way of medical research and issuing death threats,” and also makes “offensive, mean-spirited jokes about people with disabilities.”
Luton on Sunday, online
http://www.luton-dunstable.co.uk/Home/Letters/What-a-Lowe-d-of-absolute-nonsense-12082011.htm
12/08/11
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