Annandale Herald – 7^th April 2005

Advocacy Bid to Help Sufferers

Members of Dumfries and Galloway ME Network are travelling to Ayrshire later this month for the launch of a new national advocacy service designed to help sufferers.

Chairman Denis Turner, secretary Norma Turner and Dr Gregor Purdie are planning to be in Troon on April 25 for the unveiling of the 25% ME Group’s new service, which has been funded by a Big Lottery grant.

Galloway and Upper Nithsdale MSP Alex Fergusson, who is convener of the Scottish cross party ME group, will carry out the official launch.

The new service will provide advice for severe sufferers on benefits, social services and community care, and offer help with form filling, telephone support and face-to-face representation.

Co-ordinator Simon Lawrence said: “We hope to provide a real, practical support for people with this condition. We might not be able to offer a cure but we certainly plan to alleviate some of the everyday problems experienced by sufferers with the introduction of this type of specialized advocacy service.

ME sufferers need a simple procedure and assistance in obtaining suitable care for their long-term disabling illness.

I believe the provision of this new service will greatly alleviate some of the problems faced on a daily basis.”

Ayr Advertiser 4^th May 2005

Troon Notes

Nan McFarlane

ME Launch New Project

Alex Fergusson MSP officially opened Troon’s 25% ME Group Advocacy Service office

He said: “This is a great step forward for this awful disease” He condemned the withdrawal of benefits and the devastating effect this can have on any recovery from the illness. When praising the group for the long battle they have had to establish the office he concluded by telling how the Parliament’s cross party group of MSP’s were brought to tears by a poem written by a girl of 15.

It expressed her mother’s struggle to cope with ME and how she was driven to suicide when her benefits were withdrawn.

The 25% ME Group represents the 25 per cent of people with ME who are severely affected by the disease and require care packages to stay in their own homes.

Chairman Simon Lawrence, a long term wheelchair user due to ME, was highly praised by the many health care representatives attending the Group opening ceremony, for his efforts made to secure to funding for the Troon service.

Simon said: “ME is a disease that has proved to be of the least understood neurological illness of the last few decades and at last we will be able to give practical help to people with ME”.

25% me Group were awarded £144,000 from the Big Lottery Fund and from their base in Church Street, over 3,000 people in Scotland with severe ME will benefit from the new advocacy service.