AWARENESS CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 2003.

After being asked by the Chair of the group if I could do “something” about awareness of fibromyalgia my initial thought was for a conference, as I had never organized such an event before I found myself swamped with questions such as would it be supported, who would be the speakers, where would the venue be, could I pull this together in time for Fibromyalgia Awareness week, would it be a success or a complete waste of time?

The write up in the group news letter Fibro Focus Supporter of November 2003 by the General Secretary and Membership Secretary Carla Martinho was as follows, quote:

This years Fibromyalgia Awareness Day was my first as Membership and General Secretary and what a success it was!

It was fantastic to see so many dignitaries make the effort to come and spend the day with us. The Sheriff of Nottingham opened the proceedings and had obviously been practicing on his pronunciation of “fibromyalgia”. The Mayors and Mayoresses of Broxtowe & Gedling joined us for the event.

Phillip Whitehead, Roger Helmer and Mel Read all MEP’s and MP’s Judy Mallaber, Nick Palmer, Paddy Tippings and Vernon Coaker all joined us for the event.

We were lucky enough to have several interesting speakers, Bob Stewart Chair of Fibromyalgia Association UK was his usual entertaining self, Bobs’ wife Pam, Dr. Zak Hussain Pain Management Consultant at the Queens Medical Centre, Dr. Nick Palmer (MP for Broxtowe) and Dr. K. Lim Consultant from Kings Mill Hospital was roped into the Q & A time.

Pam Stewart stepped into the breech when Kathy Longley was unable to join us, Pam spoke about the National Conference planned for 2004, Bob spoke about the work of the national association, MP for Broxtowe Nick Palmer told us about the great success that has been made in promoting awareness of fibromyalgia and the issues surrounding the condition since he became involved in the setting up of the FAPPG (Fibromyalgia All Party Parliamentary Group) along with the Nottingham group in 2000 and of the progress that still needs to be made if sufferers are to gain the recognition they deserve.

Dr. Hussain of the pain management department at QMC gave an excellent talk on pain and fibromyalgia joined by Dr .K Lim, which I for one found really interesting despite not being a sufferer myself.

Unfortunately the event was marred by the breakdown of the PA system!

“unquote”.

For myself, my memories of the awareness was the PA failing us when we needed it so desperately and Central TV covering the event and reporting it on the tea time news, the MP’s, the MEP’s the dignitaries and professionals who attended the event and the speakers who were all great along with a packed audience of 200 who turned out to support our first conference at the City Hospital. I realized from this event that there was a huge gap in information for patients, this was to shape our awareness plans for the following 4 years.

Christine Brown, Awareness Co-ordinator.