Mark Webster's Bath Half Marathon

Mark with mum Isabel Webster

Mark's story: On the first Sunday in March I will be taking part in the Bath Half Marathon as a way of showing my support to two special people who I love dearly and many more like them who also suffer with ME. Mum has shown  great courage in learning to manage a condition that leaves her house-bound most of the time these days. Her good friend Nadine also suffers from ME and has become a close friend to me and my wife. I'm sure she will not mind me saying that she is as mad as a box of frogs and she has the most wicked sense of humour.

Both of them have a generosity of spirit that is not bounded at all by the challenges they face on a daily basis. If ever there were two reasons to put hard earned cash into biomedical research into the causes of ME, these two should stand up... But they would be the first to speak out for their many friends and thousands more who they have never met who have to struggle with the varied and cruel effects of this neurological condition as well as dealing with the ignorance and antipathy often shown by some health professionals and members of the public.

Nadine and Issy at Mark & Beccy's Wedding in 2010

They deal with both these problems with a level of patience, resilience, dignity and dare I say humour, than I and many of their loved ones could ever hope to. ME frustrates us and makes us angry but they inspire us and help us to treasure the sense of well being that they still do have whilst also teaching us not to take our own health for granted. So if you would like to show your support for Mum and Nadine as well as their many friends and countless others who all deserve our support then please donate whatever you can, however little, it would be really appreciated.  To donate - click here

As for the run itself, if you are in Bath on the first Sunday in March you'll probably see me at the back running behind the bloke carrying a fridge and just in front of the lady running on her hands. I'm not the fittest person in the world and I'm carrying enough spare tyres to keep Kwik Fit in business so it will be a challenge to complete but what ever place I finish in, 'll be proudly wearing an 'Invest in ME' tshirt and thinking about my Mum, Nadine and the many others who run their own half marathon each day without even leaving the house.
Thanks for reading,
Mark x
Mark's Bath Half Marathon 2014 Fundraising Page on JustGiving

"Daddy is running for my Gran and Invest in M.E."

Mark's biggest supporter, his son Finn 

Mark's Bath Half Marathon 2014

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Let's do it for ME! is a community campaign in support of the work of independent UK charity Invest in ME (Research) and raises funds for the biomedical research into myalgic encephalomyelitis that the charity is organising and/or funding. Invest in ME is run entirely by unpaid volunteers who either have ME or are parents and carers of people with ME. They are driving the agenda of scientific biomedical research into diagnostic tests and treatments for myalgic encephomyelitis in collaboration with international researchers of world renown - 2014 promises be an exciting year for progress in M.E. research and we can all help.

Click here for current and planned research projects.  Thank-you for your support.

Let's do it for ME!
ldifme.org

Invest in ME (Research)
investinme.org
Invest in ME International Biomedical Research Conference (IIMEC)
investinme.eu