Film night shines spotlight on ME

A fundraising cinema screening, organised by a film fan to mark the 30th anniversary of her diagnosis for chronic fatigue syndrome, has raised hundreds of pounds for potentially lifesaving research.

Sheena Hewitt was just 11 when she fell ill with what turned out to be Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, a condition which causes long-term symptoms of tiredness and weakness. She became so ill she was forced to leave school.

To mark the third decade of living with the illness, Sheena wanted to organise an event to help address stigmas about her condition.

She teamed up with the Perth Film Society for a special screening of Oscar-nominated documentary Unrest. The film tells the story of how director Jennifer Brea and her new husband faced an illness that struck her just before they married.

The Perth Theatre screening, supported by Horsecross Arts, the Big Lottery Fund and Film Hub Scotland, coincided with ME Awareness week.

It was well-attended and made £630 for ME Research UK.

Sheena said she wanted to support the charity because she felt it was not very well known locally.

“ME Research has given myself and my family considerable hope over the years,” she said. “As the only national research charity to be based here in Perth, the charity is of truly national importance.”