Faye Disley, an inspirational fire fighter from Merseyside, in support of FMA UK

Faye who is a fire fighter from Aintree, Merseyside, is doing a number of fundraising challenges to raise vital funds for Fibromyalgia Action UK, because her mum lives with fibromyalgia. She is also raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity. Faye, who has been taking part in a number of fundraising activities over the course of a year, used the treadmill challenge as a training exercise before she takes part in the New York Marathon on Sunday, November 5 to raise even more funds for Fibromyalgia Action UK and the Fire Fighters Charity.

Faye told us: “I’m hoping as many people as possible will continue to support me and raise awareness of Fibromyalgia Action UK and The Fire Fighters Charity whilst helping me raise as much money as possible for two wonderful causes by donating money, visiting my justgiving pages or textgiving. My dream is to raise around £2,000 for the two charities as both are close to my heart and provide valuable services to people all across the UK.’’

To sponsor Faye https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/faye-disley-1

Read more...

Liza Jane - Behind a Smile

Liza Jane -Behind a Smile is a song by Liza Barnett-Tweedie

My Name is Liza I am the Chair Of Barnsley & District Fibromyalgia support group

The idea of behind a smile came to me after Alfie Pearson approached me about a idea to raise awareness of his parents illnesses SPS (stiff person syndrome) and fibromyalgia both Dave and Stephanie Pearson have encouraged me to complete this project with the help of Lewis Hill (music and arranged plus recorded the song) Kate Robinson teaching skills , Jim Mcentee designer of CD covers and getting a great deal on cd production, Photography and PowerPoint presentation are courtesy of John Kirk and  Angie Kirk . As well as Barnsley & District Fibromyalgia group, friends and family  I could not have pushed through the complications of copd and fibromyalgia without them all. My hope for this song is for people to understand our pain and suffering people cannot see.  Money raised from the sale of CDs will be split between both chariites.

Luke Bowes, from Thurrock, will run 100km to help those living with fibromyalgia

Luke told us: ‘’My Mum and one of my closest friends, Abbie, suffer from Fibromyalgia. Since I've known about my Mum's and Abbie's Fibromyalgia I now know another 2 other people who suffer from the condition.

Whilst my mum has found something that helps, she still suffers some days more than others and that was only after being lucky enough to get some private advice/treatment something that not everyone is able to afford. Unfortunately Abbie has not found something that works for her yet, as I mentioned above treatment is very much pot luck and constantly trying different things, which is incredibly difficult in a situation where you are unable to work, yet you don't get any support to help, no matter how much you try! To see them on their worst days is very upsetting, they can be in so much pain that they struggle to get out of bed and perform simple tasks we take for granted.

Read more...

Ben Keane's Rochdale 10K run for his Mum

Ben Keane will run the 10K run on the 8^th October and he has raised already almost £200. Ben told us: ‘’My mum Caron was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia around 4 years ago after suffering for years with what was unknown at the time until a final diagnosis by her GP. She battled on but had to give up work 2 years ago. That was the end of 30 years of hairdressing job she loved. It also meant the end of most of her social life as it is often difficult to compose your thoughts and speech due to fibro fog. The condition affects her both physically and mentally including memory loss, the inability to follow a conversation, joint pain, insomnia and regular fatigue where even to go up the stairs is painful and like running a marathon.  

There is no cure for the condition and very little is understood about it. My mum is currently on medication which only masks the symptoms. That's why the money going to Fibromyalgia Action UK is so important to assist in research and to help the charity to continue to help sufferers around the UK and campaign to ensure treatment is no longer a post code lottery which is currently the case.’’

To donate visit Ben’s JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/benkeane-lyons

On the photo: Ben with his mum on her wedding day 

Nigel Tucker raises over £200 for FMA UK in 100km cycle ride and wins silver time

Nigel Tucker cycled 100km in New Forest on the 16^th September to support FMA UK and to raise awareness of fibromyalgia. Nigel told us: ‘’Yesterday was the big day, I completed my 61 mile/100km bike ride in 4hours and 6 minutes which was fast enough to earn me a silver time in the event, just 10 minutes and 55 seconds short of gold.

The fibromyalgia cause is close to my heart because one of my closest friends lives with the condition every day – she was diagnosed 5 years ago.  I chose Fibromyalgia Action UK from the JustGiving website as I want to help raise awareness and support the great work you do in helping people like my best friend.

Whilst I am a keen cyclist I have never done more than around 60km in any one day so 100km is a big push for me.’’ Nigel has been training hard before the event, cycling a lot and up to 100km a week before the event.

To donate visit Nigel’s JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nigel-tucker

Matthew Painter's 12 mile walk and run for FMA UK

Matthew Painter raised over £600 for FMA UK in a 12 miles sponsored run/walk in Swindon area. He walked for 5 hours to raise funds and awareness of fibromyalgia. Out of 5 hours, 3 hours and 31 minutes was walking. ‘’I decided to do the walk to raise money and awareness of fibromyalgia  because I've suffered with it myself for nearly 7 years. No one else in my family has it, but someone else, the wife of a friend, also suffers from it. I only found out when he told me

I trained for 8 weeks in the run up to the walk for two days a week, starting from a hour and a half of sustained walking and building up to three and a half hours - in my last bit of training I reached 8.2 miles walked. My girlfriend supported me by coming along on some of the training. On the day of the walk, my brother came along to support me in his car, and drove to certain points to check I was alright and supply me with bananas and drinks along the way.

The biggest problem I had to overcome was bad feet - plantar fasciitis! Luckily I was able to buy a new pair of trainers before the walk, and with my heel properly supported all the pain went away in time for the walk.’’

We would like to say well done to Matthew!