MEA Big Give Christmas Challenge at new.thebiggive.org.uk/projects/view/13=
401=0A=0AIf you go online at any time between now and 5pm on Friday, the 9t=
h =0Aof December, you will be able to help us buy in extra training for the=
=0Avolunteers on our ME Connect helpline =E2=80=93 in specialist skills li=
ke how to help callers who are in distress, coping with panic and anxiety a=
ttacks and helping people with ME/CFS cope better at work.=0A=0AWe have 30 =
volunteers =E2=80=93 all excellent, trained listeners =E2=80=93 who every =
=0Anow and again need their knowledge and skills to be brought up to date. =
=0AUnfortunately, the ME Association cannot afford to pay for this extra =
=0Atraining ourselves. We have to rely on the generosity of others to fill =
=0Athe gap.=0A=0AEvery online donation to the Christmas Challenge will be m=
atched =0Apound for pound =E2=80=93 thanks to some early pledgers. And, if =
we achieve the =0Atarget of =C2=A34,200, there will be an extra donation of=
=C2=A3800 from the Big =0AGive themselves.=0A=0AThe =C2=A35,000 will pay f=
or five training courses and all the support =0Amaterials needed. Many of o=
ur volunteers are ill themselves, or they=E2=80=99re =0Acaring of someone w=
ith ME/CFS. The telephone is the best way to bring =0Athem all together.=0A=
=0ASo the training will be delivered by a series of telephone conferences b=
etween now and the middle of 2013. =0A=0AFor many people, our helpline give=
s them the strength to carry on =0Awhen so often the reaction to how ill t=
hey=E2=80=99re feeling is hostility and =0Adisbelief.=0A=0AMany find it dif=
ficult to put into words the gratitude they feel or =0Athe difference a pho=
ne call can make to their lives. One Christmas =0Amorning, a lady phoned in=
to talk. We were the only people she=E2=80=99d spoken =0Ato for a couple o=
f days and she wasn=E2=80=99t expecting anyone to call round =0Auntil after=
the holiday. =0A=0AAs the call was ending after 20 minutes or so and her m=
ood had lifted, she said simply: =E2=80=9CThank you. You=E2=80=99ve saved m=
y life!=E2=80=9D =0A=0AAnother lady with very severe M.E. called. She was s=
o ill that she =0Acould only speak in a whisper. After every few words, she=
left gaps =0Abefore she could continue. She needed a =E2=80=98verbal hug=
=E2=80=99 =E2=80=93 for us to be =0Athere for her, not saying much=E2=80=A6=
just listening.=0A=0APlease go online between today and Friday (9th Decemb=
er) to support our Christmas Appeal at http://new.thebiggive.org.uk/project=
s/view/13401=0A=0AOur lifeline at ME Connect really does need your support.=
=0A=0AAn important number =E2=80=93 0844 576 5326=0ADon=E2=80=99t forget, =
if you need to phone, ME Connect is open every day on 0844=0A 576 5326, inc=
luding over the Christmas holiday. The lines are open =0A10am-12noon, 2-4pm=
and 7-9pm. We=E2=80=99ll be there for you. Please be there =0Afor us!=0A=
=C2=A0=0ATony Britton=0APublicity Manager, ME Association=0AHome-based: 60 =
Broadgate, Weston, Spalding PE12 6HY=0ATel: 01406 370293 Mob: 07880 502927=
=0AME Association website=0AFollow us on Facebookand Twitter
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