Author: Admin

A new book released this week written by Greg Crowhurst RNLD, PgDIP, MA – ‘Care for Someone with Severe ME’. Available from Stonebird. “If you want to know about the reality of ME, in all its aspects, if you want to understand the environment in which ME grows and its sufferers are persecuted, read this Handbook.  Greg Crowhurst’s book is of immense value, it’s a holistic book, a total book which looks at ME from the focused pinpoint of the sufferer while rising above the immediate physical problem to reconnoitre the surrounding landscape.” wrote Martin Walker. Greg and his wife Linda contributed their experiences to Voices from the Shadows

Last September Victoria Webster, an 18 year old who was diagnosed with ME and had been ill for most of her life, died. “Victoria had a very severe form of ME which made her hypersensitive to light and noise, to the point that she was bedbound and had to have her bedroom completely in the dark and the windows sound-proofed.” There has recently been an inquest into her death which remained largely unnoticed until then. A newspaper article is  here

You can now watch Voices from the Shadows online anywhere in the world at http://mubi.com/films/voices-from-the-shadows and there is currently a free offer…

‘During the making of this film some of the people shown have deteriorated inexorably.  For many people with ME, time is running out.’ This statement appears at the end of the film. One of the people it refers to was a young woman – Emily Collingridge – who suffered from ME  for most of her life. Emily died last Sunday 18th March 2012 after many years of very severe illness. Tragically, even though she dedicated her life to trying to educate others, she suffered horribly from the lack of expertise or even basic understanding demonstrated by some medical practitioners involved in her care. Emily had a high profile in her fight to publicise the illness and her death will be noted, but there have been other young people who have died without publicity during this same period. Who is counting these deaths from ME ?

At Stanford Medical School, one of the foremost medical schools in the USA, the Chronic Fatigue Initiative run by Prof Jose Montoya has included ‘Voices from the Shadows‘ in its list of ‘Helpful Videos‘.  Other pages give information about Infection-Associated Chronic Fatigue Syndrome  and information about a number of different pathogens which have been found to be associated with the illness. There is also a useful Links and Resources section

The film will soon be available to watch worldwide on Mubi.com   We’re hoping it will  be available from around the 20th March. Mubi currently have a free 14 day trial to watch as many films as you want, or you can watch ‘Voices from the Shadows’ as many times as you like in a week – for £2.39.

The Film Club at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is hosting a screening of  “Voices from the Shadows” on March 8th from 5.30 -7.00pm. It is open to the general public and will be followed by a discussion. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is on Keppel St. close to the British Museum and a short walk from tube stations. The film will be screened in the Manson Auditorium, which is close to the entrance and wheel chair accessible. Please RSVP to filmclub@lshtm.ac.uk if you wish to attend – to ensure there is enough space.

We’re now able to ship DVDs to Australia and New Zealand (please note though we can only ship upto and including five copies per order). Also given the distance please allow a little more time for delivery! Normal disks are 11 AUD plus 4.50AUD for postage and packaging. DVDs with Education licenses are 45AUD and copies on Bluray with Education licenses are 50AUD. Full details and to order here

DVDs are now available to order online. If you’d like to buy a copy you can do so here.  DVDs for personal and domestic use (without public screening rights)  cost £6 (plus flat rate p&p) in the UK and €8.50 (plus p&p) in Europe. Copies with educational and public screening rights are also available.

We’ve spent years working on this project and hope that you all can help with using this film as a tool to educate others – by giving copies to doctors, MPs and other relevant professionals as well as friends and family with whom you wish to share this film about severe ME. The film will be available on mubi.com as soon as possible for everyone outside Europe. We cannot post DVDs to countries outside the UK and Europe for now, but will try to make arrangements for this later.

 Buy Voices from the Shadows on DVD Here.