Mikes EU Marathons for Invest In ME

Mike Harley

Mike Harley

Messages
51
Location
Bristol
Hi all

Some nice people on the forum asked if I would post updates and news on my challenge to run a marathon in all 28 EU countries for Invest In Me (http://www.investinme.org/) and their biomedical research activities.

There's a snapshot of what I'm doing and why over at www.justgiving.com/mikeseumarathons

I'm up to number 9 (Oct 23rd) in Toulouse, France having completed UK, Czech Rep, Finland, Ireland, Greece, Sweden, Poland and Brussels so far.

Next year I've booked Spain (Barcelona, Mar 13th) and Luxembourg (May 27th) and will book another 3 when I have the money/hopefully corporate sponsorship.

Here's how the races have gone so far: http://www.mikeseumarathons.eu/race-reports.html

It's not just about running and donations, I meet with ME patients and charities/associations in each country and help raise awareness of their plight in the media there and internationally if I can. http://www.mikeseumarathons.eu/me-in-the-eu.html

So far I've met with people on nearly every trip which has been fantastic. I've set up a Polish ME Facebook Support Group and raised over £5K of the £26.2K challenge I've set myself; aside from the journey from couch potato to marathon runner it's been an incredible journey. I hope to get the next 20 races done by 2021, quicker if I get corporate sponsorship in.

I'll be posting little updates and news from every country I get to. Next week I'm interviewing Francoise Becavin from ASFC to find out whats going on in France, will post it here.

You can follow me at www.facebook.com/mikeseumarathons and @mikeseumaras on twitter.

Thanks for reading

Mike
 
Last edited:
Hip

Hip

Senior Member
Messages
17,648
There is an article about Mike's fundraising efforts on MEpedia. An extract:
Mike states his motivation for his unique fundraising effort: "Over 250,000 people in the UK suffer with the ME and that includes 25,000 children as well as one of my good friends who has suffered for almost 9 years with the illness. Watching him drift from year to year without improvement is extremely hard to watch, I want to try to do something to stop this. He's not depressed or making it up, he's one of the most popular and positive people I know. He's ill."
Click to expand...

Fantastic stuff, @Mike Harley.
 
Mike Harley

Mike Harley

Messages
51
Location
Bristol
Hi all

Here's my interview with Marie from ASFC (Association française du Syndrome de Fatigue Chronique) about what it's like for ME patients in France.

http://www.mikeseumarathons.eu/france.html

I'll be running Toulouse Marathon there on Sunday (no 9 of 28) and hoping to meet someone from ASFC.

Also just been interviewed by a local Toulouse paper (will publish when live), hopefully can make a small awareness ripple for people with ME there.

The two French ME facebook support groups I'm aware of have posted some nice messages and donated to Invest In ME this week for their biomedical projects.

Feel free to share/circulate

Mike
 
Mike Harley

Mike Harley

Messages
51
Location
Bristol
Hi all,

So the race went OK, I was a bit injured but I got round alright and am recovering well.

I've done a race report for anyone who is interested.

http://www.mikeseumarathons.eu/toulouse-france-oct-2016.html

Was also grateful to be featured in La Depeche du Midi (Toulouse local paper) -just a shame about the headline which I most certainly didn't give them!

http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/201...ir-pour-faire-connaitre-une-maladie-rare.html

I've got a break now until March 12th where race number 10 of 28 will be Barcelona Marathon.

Have a nice Xmas/New Year all, thanks for your support.

Mike
 
Mike Harley

Mike Harley

Messages
51
Location
Bristol
Hi all.

I've booked 4 of 5 races so far for next year.

If anyone lives nearby and thinks they might be well enough to meet when I come over to run that would be fantastic.

10. Sunday 12th March - Barcelona
11. Saturday 27th May - Luxembourg
12. Sunday 10th Sept - Vilnius
13. Sunday 15th Oct - Amsterdam

Feel free to leave a comment below and I'll make a note to pick this up again with you soon.

Thanks for the nice messages, catch up in Jan/Feb.
 
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