London Loop Nicky

In 2017 I have set myself a challenge to walk 1000 miles, and a big part of this will be to walk the 150 mile London Loop. This follows the outer edges of Greater London, within the M25, and covers many stretches of unexpectedly beautiful countryside, all hidden within the noise and chaos of the city. I am raising funds for my local ME Support Group, the Richmond and Kingston ME Group, who support around 170 members in the local area and beyond. Symptoms of people with ME range from mild to very severe, leaving many people housebound or even bedbound. Social isolation is one of the biggest problems for those with this hugely debilitating and misunderstood illness, which means that contact with our group becomes a lifeline for many. Funds raised will go towards some of the many activities of the group, including production of our quarterly Newsletter, printing of literature to raise awareness of ME, purchasing of audio equipment to assist members at Benefits interviews and raising awareness of the illness. All these things make life a little easier for our members, who are often suffering from acute financial hardship due to being unable to work. We also support the members through telephone contact, a closed Email group and fortnightly social gatherings. My ME, which I have had for 10 years, is very mild indeed these days, and rarely prevents me from going out and living life to the full. Too much noise and too much stress are the triggers that I have learnt to avoid, and, fortunately for me, walking and the great outdoors are things that I love. I am raising funds for the people whose symptoms are considerably more severe than mine and who are therefore unable to go out and enjoy their lives in the way that I can. Please give generously to this worthwhile cause! Thank you.