Barbara's Crusade
One woman's personal setback set a ball rolling which thanks to her uncrushable spirit resulted in the establishment of Clwyd ME Support Group.
Barbara became ill
In 1988, Barbara Turnbull contracted Myalgic Enceph
alomyelitis (ME), and was quite ill for 4 to 5 years, unable to do anything, suffering from an illness which at that time many doctors dismissed as 'all in the mind'. She finally found out that she had ME but also that there was very little support available. ME seems to happen to busy people, and it is very hard to come to terms with because the more you try and do, the worse it gets. To improve you have to learn to take things very very slowly.
After joining the ME Association in 1992 which covers all of the UK, Barbara responded to the call to form a support group in this area. She also arranged through the WEA to be trained as a counsellor and for others to train so that they could support the many bewildered, ill people who get in touch.
The group's first meeting
In August 1992 when Barbara was almost 60, the first meeting was held at Deeside Cottages Community Centre and 15 people came. Christmas 1992 saw the first newsletter published. She has been Chairman of Deeside Branch of the Workers Educational Association (WEA) since 1966, so she was no stranger to organising groups, meetings, conferences and lectures etc.The group grew in strength and the newsletters are now sent out to over 250 people, but we needed more help for sufferers in this area.
Campaigning for local Clinics
She decided to push for local services and after many meetings, through putting presure on the Health Authorities, and despite the opposition of some medical consultants, in April 1999 the first CFS/ME Clinics were opened in Connah's Quay and Caernarvon to provide services for Adult CFS/ME sufferers. The clinics are not connected to the Clwyd ME Support group. They are mainstream services run by the NHS.
We became a charity
In 2000 the MEA decided to dissolve all its local Groups, but our support group was still needed so Clwyd ME went independent and accepted Flintshire Local Voluntary Council's help to become a Charity in its own right. The group has recently celebrated it's 13th anniversary and has expanded in the last year to include a Youth section for young sufferers and their parents. Barbara is now working with the group towards gaining funding for an outreach nurse for home visits to the severly affected.