Helen Hyland, Fundraising Manager, ME Association.
Two very special ladies completed another adventure for ME last weekend, embarking upon a 50km walk along the South Coast from Eastbourne.
Mother and daughter Nikki and Brittany Onraet are no strangers to the ME Association having previously raised thousands in a football tournament and two long distance walks.
They swore that their 100km walk in 2016 was their last. They’d wanted to take on something strenuous, so that they had some appreciation of how exhausted Nikki’s son, Cai, felt each and every day. And they succeeded
Cai was struck down with M.E. in June 2014 literally in the middle of a football match when he was just 14. Despite losing two years of school because of the pain, exhaustion, brain fog, nausea and insomnia, Cai has fought back.
Nikki is so proud that he managed to achieve A grades in his recent A level exams and will be off to university next month. Nikki is clear that Cai wouldn’t be where he is now without his sheer determination and the incredible support from his friends and family.
Nikki says, “It is amazing how far Cai has come, but unfortunately he is not out of the woods yet, as for every good day there's still the chance of a bad. But continue smashing it Cai!”
This year’s South Coast Challenge is a part celebration – of Cai’s journey to date, but also of a Big Birthday event for Nikki. It’s not polite to tell a lady’s age, but the clue is in the distance…. #50for50.
Thank you both very much and we wish Cai all the best.
The ME Association
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