Honouring M.E. champion, Dr Richard Sykes
September 23, 2021
Action for M.E. is saddened to learn of the death of M.E. campaigner Dr Richard Sykes, aged 89 years.
Based in Bristol, Richard founded Westcare in 1990, offering counselling services, occupational therapy and residential rehabilitation for M.E. He was instrumental in setting up the National Task Force on M.E., whose 1994 report concluded: “Provision of care for people with CFS/ME is a service obligation which can no longer be ignored.”
Richard retired when Westcare merged with Action for M.E. in 2002 but remained a champion for the M.E. community. He was a regular attendee at UK CFS/M.E. Research Collaborative Conferences, where he was keen to hear the insight and experience of patients, researchers and others working in the field.
Writing on the Bristol ME Support Group Facebook page, his friend Patrick Hayes said:
“Richard was a keen climber and together with his friend Mike Banks climbed the famous sea stack, the Old Man of Hoy, to raise funds for Westcare and to enable Banks to claim the title as the oldest person to make the formidable ascent. Richard put his heart and soul into helping people with ME. The ME community has lost a loyal and true champion. May he rest in peace.”
Our staff and Trustees send sincere condolences to all who knew and loved Richard.
