Linda Danielis is a marketing Consultant for Cumbria University, she suffers from ME and is determined to develop support services for people in Carlisle. A successful joint bid by Cumbria Business School, Northumbria University and Manchester Metropolitan University through the Governments Urban Regeneration Fund is making this project a reality.

A very successful first public event was held at the University of Central Lancashire's Cumbria Business School last month when over 40 people attended and received 1st hand help and support from several agencies including ME North East, Carlisle Carers, Welfare Benefits, Expert Patient Programme and Ayme’s regional coordinator Kate Milbourn.

We now have over 65 members on our database throughout Cumbria, we have links with an existing support group in Cockermouth and a number of individuals willing to establish a group in Carlisle.

This is an exciting development that ME North East wish to sustain and expand. With dedicated CFS/ME services well established in North Cumbria we will continue to work with this Multi-Disciplinary team representing patients needs.

In order to do this successfully we intend to secure designated funds within North Cumbria to carry the project beyond this first phase and into the future. Many of our new contacts hope to meet up in Keswick next month when we gather to cheer Dr Nigel Speight on his journey from Lands End to John O Groats.