Here we are again, our third annual fundraiser in aid of ME Research.
To date in Belfast we have raised £15,000 for biomedical research into ME and this has helped immensely towards better understanding this debilitating neurological illness. It has only been with the help of people like yourselves who give money and attend our fundraisers that we can give hope to the many people living with ME. Unfortunately, the government's continuing refusal to fund biomedical research into ME means that it is vital that we raise even more money in order to find the cause of this illness and therefore a cure for the 7,000 children and adults living with this condition in Northern Ireland.
There is a lot of evidence which supports the fact that ME is a very real physical illness. Recent research highlights the prevalence of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in people with ME, increased oxidative stress which may be responsible for some of the symptoms — such as pain — seen after exercise, abnormal acetylcholine metabolism and increased neutrophil (white blood cell) apop-tosis consistent with an activated inflammatory process. Our own Dr Jonathan Kerr's (originally from Belfast) research into gene expression has also shown that the genes of people with ME express differently from those without.
We are hopeful therefore that with more research we may find the cause of ME and be able to cure it. Failing that, we hope through biomedical research to find appropriate treatments for those living with this condition.
Please support our continued campaign for biomedical research into ME by attending our fundraising event on Friday, October 17 at 8pm in the Felons Club, Falls Road. We have young local talent lined up to take part in A Song 4 ME. There will be a disco, bal- j lots and once again our charity auction including a signed and framed Celtic shirt, Celtic ; mirror, a collection of signed books and much-sought-after tickets for the X-Factor Tour being held in March 2009 -these tickets have not even gone on sale yet. There are many ballots including children's toys etc. Also in attendance on the the night is the Lord Mayor himself, Tom Hartley. Ticket price £5 or pay at the door. All welcome.
Can we take this opportunity to thank yourselves, the Andersontown News, for your continuous support over the past three years in helping us raise much-needed awareness into ME.
Antoinette and Paul Christie and Familv.
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