Everest Base Camp Reached For ME Awareness !

After a pretty tough time, the guys riding as part of The Nomadic Knights group, have made it to Everest Base Camp. Their brief report is below. I hope we can use this story to gain interest from media sources to help raise awareness for us all. It's the least the guys deserve for all their efforts.

19 May 2017.

“Very pleased to report that we reached Mt Qomolangma (Everest) Base Camp with the ME Awareness Flag at 1528hrs on Thursday 18th May. Three and a half hours after we had planned but time in Tibet can sometimes be very fluid. The base camp is located at 5200m, walking to the final destination was challenging in itself due to low oxygen levels.

Conditions at base camp were extremely windy (good for flag flying) with intermittent clouds with no particular destination in mind and the sun was not ideal for photos.

The peak of Mt Everest is located directly above the left hand corner of the flag with the snow being blown from it, not ideal climbing weather. Directly behind the flag in the valley you can just make out the orange tents, this is the base camp for the mountaineers, their teams and their support crew waiting for windows in the weather to commence their attempt on the summit and move to the next stage camp. Lots of waiting unfortunately.”

ME Awareness Flag On The Way To Everest Base Camp !

17 May 2017.

“We are now at Tingri which is the last stop before Everest Base Camp, the plan is to head to Base Camp early tomorrow morning.

Unfortunately two of our team have been hospitalised with quite serious cases of Altitude Mountain Sickness which can be unpredictable and affect different people in different ways, unfortunately their ride is over and they will be transferred back to Lhasa hopefully within 3/4 days. Naturally the team is extremely disappointed for them, so close to seeing and experiencing Everest. Our thoughts and spirits are with them.  Today’s photo of the Flag on route was taken at the entrance to Mt Qomolangma National Park at an elevation of 5248 mtrs which is the highest we should be going. “Qomolangma” is the Tibetans name for Everest. In 2012 this area was awarded the National Park status, it is the highest national park in the world and covers 78000 sq kms. It holds 5 peaks over 8000 mtrs – Mt Qomolangma (Everest), Mt Shishapangma, Mt Chi Oya, Mt Lhotse and Mt Mhakalho.

The park is a holy land for scientists, mountaineers, tourists and pilgrims.

12 May 2017.  Just to let you know that The York ME Community / Invest in ME Flag has reached Lhasa in Tibet, on its way to be raised at Everest Base Camp for ME Awareness !  Future communications might be difficult with the Internet and emails in Tibet being controlled by the Chinese, but hopefully it’ll make it !

The Coffee Club

Our Coffee Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month for a cuppa and a natter at The Novotel York.

Our next get together is on Wed 19 July at 2 pm.  The Coffee Club is open to anyone either with ME, or friends and family looking for support from people who understand.

Due to the nature of the illness, there will be times when numbers are low, but if you'd like to attend, either just turn up on the day, or email me at bill@York-ME-Community.org.  If you're a member of our Facebook Group (below), you can of course say you'll be going via the Events area.

ME Awareness At York Explore

Friday 28 July 2017

The York ME Community will have a 'Table' at York Explore Library on 28 July 2017 to inform visitors about ME and raise awareness.  Please pop in for a chat if you're in town.

Our Facebook Group

The social element of this site is via a Facebook Group called The York ME Community.

This is available to people in the York area looking for help, advice and support, whether those diagnosed, family or friends. We are a close knit group who discuss more than just ME, as we like to think that we are not defined by this illness. We discuss every day things, have a laugh, and try to meet on a monthly basis if the beast that is ME allows us !  If you apply to join, please check your Facebook messages, as I tend to get in touch for a quick 'chat' before adding applicants to the group.

Please don't apply to join if you are promoting your preferred remedy. I'm happy to mention your company within the group, but it's for individuals to choose what they wish to try in their battle to seek an improvement in their health.

Congratulations to Bransby Wilson Ltd, the York based Parking Solutions company who have been one of the companies to support The York ME Community this year.  One of their teams entered into our Inter Company Fantasy Football League were top on Christmas Day and so received a box of goodies from another of our supporters, Nestle of York, and so a big thank you to them and all the other York businesses taking part and supporting us.  Now they've only gone and won the league and The York ME TGA Shield !  Our league is sponsored by TGA Mobility and the shield will be presented in due course.  

If your company would like to take part next season, all it takes is a £25 registration fee which goes directly to Invest in ME Research.  We make sure all businesses get a good mention in social media with their business Tweets being re-sent to hundreds more potential new clients.

Please get in touch by dropping me an email at bill@York-ME-Community.org to register your interest.

Why not take this opportunity to support your local community and raise the profile of ME Awareness in York, an illness that affects around 800 people in the York area, with 200 being severe, meaning house or bed bound. Tomorrow it could hit you or one of your family, so you could be helping yourself too.........

Calling On All York Businesses !

Would you like to help your local community ?  By current research, there are around 800 people in the York area suffering from Myalgic Enecephalomyelitis  (ME).  This might include the work colleagues you haven't seen in some time, or your friends and family, maybe one of the lads that hasn't turned up for five-a-side for a while.

There is information above to explain how it affects people and ruins lives.  These are your neighbours; would you like to help ?

The York ME Community is here to help support those in the area in need whilst raising awareness.  Unfortunately, this is hard to do when you have the illness !  I'm looking for more foot soldiers to spread the word.  Can I come into your workplace and chat to your HR Staff maybe ?  It could be that ME is having an effect in your workplace.

How would you like to take part in our online Inter Company Fantasy Football League in support of Invest in ME Research ?  Nestle of York have already donated a prize to the business team that was top of the league at Christmas and there's a trophy to be had at the end of the season.  Why not enter a team for next season ?

Is your business taking part in any runs coming up such as The London Marathon, The Great North Run, or maybe something similar ?  If you haven't decided on what cause to run for, what about Invest in ME Research ?  Any donations can be passed via the Just Giving link at the top of the site, but I'd also be able to advertise your generosity and your business name to thousands across the world via our social media connections.

There are lots of things going on locally to try and raise awareness, but we need your help to help others.  Please get in touch.  Be a part of your community.  The York ME Community.  Thanks.