Sir – We have an illness called Myalgic Encephalitis. You may know it as ME or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

You will rarely see us. Like the iceberg below water, 90 per cent of us are invisible. We are at home, in bed. When you do see us, we look OK. Slow, pale and drawn, yes, but you will see no scars or bandages. Yet we are very ill.

Our quality of life is less than cancer and multiple sclerosis patients up to six months before their death but we are treated as though we just lack the will to do something.

When young, this devastating illness is the biggest cause of long-term absence from school. It robs us of our youth. When older, we lose our jobs, friends, and often our carers. That’s what our illness does.

May 10 is the start of ME Awareness Week. The ME Association, www.meassociation.org.uk, has a very simple message. "Take ME seriously”.

With your awareness and understanding, we can change the damaging perceptions of this illness and help to improve the lives of those who face it.

Neil Riley
Chairman, The ME Association