The Challenge
Hi and thanks for visiting my site
My name is Mike Harley and I'm attempting to raise funds and awareness for the charity Invest In ME and biomedical research by running a marathon in every EU country (currently 27 in total).
My name is Mike Harley and I'm attempting to raise funds and awareness for the charity Invest In ME and biomedical research by running a marathon in every EU country (currently 27 in total).
Invest In ME is a fantastic charity raising money for biomedical trials and studies to help identify the cause and ultimately treat the condition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. Invest in ME want to establish a national strategy of biomedical research into M.E. and establish a UK and European Centre of Excellence for biomedical research into M.E.
It's estimated that over 250,000 people in the UK suffer from ME/CFS and this includes 25,000 children. ME is the main reason for child school absence in the UK and the numbers above are old estimations, it's likely that many more remain undiagnosed with the illness.
One of my oldest friends, Ian, has been suffering from ME for over 15 years and has been unable to work or lead a normal life. And as with many people who have ME, a full recovery isn't by any means guaranteed especially where governments continue to mis-diagnose the condition and fail to support clinical trials.
In 2014 with a group of friends, I took part in a very different challenge for the charity (92 football grounds in 92 hrs) managing to reach over 10 million people (through TV, Press and the football community) and raising nearly £4K. Throughout this project I met and talked to ME sufferers and their families which has had a very profound effect on my decision to attempt this challenge. For more info click here
It's estimated that over 250,000 people in the UK suffer from ME/CFS and this includes 25,000 children. ME is the main reason for child school absence in the UK and the numbers above are old estimations, it's likely that many more remain undiagnosed with the illness.
One of my oldest friends, Ian, has been suffering from ME for over 15 years and has been unable to work or lead a normal life. And as with many people who have ME, a full recovery isn't by any means guaranteed especially where governments continue to mis-diagnose the condition and fail to support clinical trials.
In 2014 with a group of friends, I took part in a very different challenge for the charity (92 football grounds in 92 hrs) managing to reach over 10 million people (through TV, Press and the football community) and raising nearly £4K. Throughout this project I met and talked to ME sufferers and their families which has had a very profound effect on my decision to attempt this challenge. For more info click here
I'll be looking to get as much exposure for Invest In ME as possible and run between 4-5 races per year (or as many as I can afford!) Within each city I'll be looking to make contact with someone within the ME community to raise the profile of the illness and the need for research into treatments.
I'm not a natural runner by any stretch, being an adopted Bristolian I love a drop of cider and it's fair to say I've had a relatively sedentary lifestyle having completed just 3 half marathons in the last 14 years (I did my first as a fresh faced 18 year old in London in 2001!) But I am extremely stubborn and whilst this is a hugely physically tough, time consuming and expensive challenge, it's one I'm completely committed to and for a cause to which I feel very connected to.
To sponsor me and help fund Invest In ME's biomedical research projects please visit: www.justgiving.com/mikeseumarathons