A FIBROMYALGIA AWARENESS EVENT

North Somerset Fibromyalgia Support Group

- supported by Regular & TA soldiers of 266 Bty RA - 100 Regiment RA, BRISTOL

The whole Awareness idea was being discussed at a support group meeting in early 2009 led by Betty Farron, our group Chairlady and also a Trustee of FMAUK ( www.fibromyalgia-associationuk.org )

We were being asked to think of ways to let more people know, recognise and learn to understand fibromyalgia.

Some while later, I heard about the Portishead Raft Race to be held at the local Lake Grounds on 12th July 09 and had a ‘eureka’ moment!

But..... how do people with fibromyalgia build a raft when sometimes it’s impossible to hold a cup of tea? Easy - I ask my hubby, who is an Army Staff Sergeant, if I can talk to his boss about it! I mean, what’s the point of knowing soldiers if you can’t ask to borrow their muscles now and then?! So, with the agreement of everyone that I asked, the plans for our raft entry went ahead. The emails flew back and forward and eventually it was decided that a team of TA and regular soldiers would volunteer their time for the whole weekend so that they could build the raft on Saturday 11th July and enter the race on the following day.

The pre-race day arrived and everyone turned up in happy mood, this was not your average TA weekend after all! Everyone set to work straight away.

There were plastic barrels, rope, black and nasty sticky tape (a crucial army item!) planks of wood, yellow and black paint and me wandering round with a radio aerial plus yellow material with black spots taking photos and making tea! I had been given the material from FMAUK by Betty and planned to use it in any way I could. The lads worked really well together and the plan all came to fruition so that on Sunday morning they loaded a complete but untried raft onto an army Bedford wagon. I had arranged for the team and helpers to wear our black and yellow support group t-shirts with the FMAUK logo and contact details plus the question - Can you spot fibro?

We were the first rafters to arrive at Portishead so plenty of time to test the buoyancy of the raft on the lake. There were a few worried faces and nervous laughter as the guys climbed onto the raft but no worries, it floated brilliantly! They took the raft for its maiden voyage round the lake and came back knowing that they were in with a fighting chance of winning! Time to hurry up and wait for the race heats to start at 1.30pm.

Meanwhile, Betty and husband Norman had arrived with the groups new gazebo to set up our groups Awareness Stand. It was a windy day with bright sunshine and Norman was also on a maiden voyage erecting the gazebo!

The crowds were arriving and an estimated 4000 people gathered around the lake to watch the races. A local BBC presenter was on the loudspeaker to take us through the afternoons events and as the first heat of rafts gathered we all made our way to the start line to go. The Sea Hats / Focus on Fibro raft to the water. The lads now had the raft in the water and were talking tactics it was very exciting and I was busy taking photos not realising that kids were busy with water pistols firing at all the contestants and anyone in range - help! Then the starter gave the countdown and they were off! Five rafts in the second heat and our raft was in second place as they aimed toward the island. I made my way back around the lake through the cheering crowds to see our lads emerge from the other side now in third place - oh no! they got caught up with some of the buoy markers and they were being dragged back! Everyone was shouting and cheering their teams and the lads were rowing brilliantly but it was no good, they came in third so no place in the final but it didn’t matter, they’d had a great time and so had everyone else. With the race over, the lads started to take a few supporters out on the raft for a paddle and some needed more help than others, particularly us fibro folk who took to the water like fibro ducks!!!!

The whole event was a great success and along with many others, we have booked a place for the 2010 Raft Race. On behalf of the North Somerset Fibromyalgia Support Group I would like to give a HUGE thank you to all the people who made the day such a success…the fibro supporters who turned out to cheer their team on and help to promote Fibromyalgia Awareness on the day, you all did such a great job yet again and got a suntan into the bargain! the army families who came along to support their partners and colleagues and who gave not only to the group funds but also to the Portishead Lifeboat for whom the whole event was created. These guys were great at asking about our cause and also wearing yellow and black spotted bandanas all day!