The Great Big small Charity Car Draw

For small charities, fundraising events can consume time and resources that would otherwise be directed to that charity’s beneficiaries, yet that fundraising income is much-needed to ensure the continued delivery of services.  To confront this problem the FSI launched The Great Big small Charity Car Draw in 2009 to take the hard work out of fundraising events and support charities right across the UK.  Thanks to the support of Zurich Insurance and the FSI trustees, the Draw is back in 2010.

It’s a lottery for supporters of small charities (and the public) to Buy Tickets to support their cause with the chance to win a funky MINI First. FMA UK has come on board with the FSI’s Car Draw and is raising funds to support our work throughout the UK.  The proceeds of the Draw will be used to raise awareness of fibromyalgia with medical professionals, government and the general public. Click here to buy a ticket on line. Read more...

June highlights from Fibromyalgia Focus
FMA UK Regional Coordinator (RC) elections are held every 3 years and will be taking place shortly. If you want to work with a great bunch of colleagues, group leaders and FMA UK, plus enjoy volunteer satisfaction then please download a nomination form.

Other items in June's magazine:

• Primary Care Conference Report by Christine Brown
• Local Group News
• OMERACT in Borneo by Kathy Longley
• Coping with Tragedy and Facing Life’s Challenges by Gill Parratt
• Finding Hope through Occupational Therapy by Kerry Dodd
• Top Tips for Self-Esteem by Bridie Nelson
• Latest FM research reviews by Dr Colin Dell
• Raising Money to Bring US Speakers to the UK by Jeanne Hambleton
• Letters Page
• Philly Orange and Ginger Puds by Alyssa Savage

Subscribe to Fibromyalgia Focus to read these articles and more

Tender points no more??

For the last 20 years the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria has been the method for diagnosing people with fibromyalgia. To achieve this diagnosis, patients were required to have:

• had pain in all four quadrants of the body for at least 3 months
• patients also need to have 11 out of 18 specifically chosen tender points

These tender points are areas of the body where it was easiest to test pain sensitivity in fibromyalgia patients.

So why do we need a new diagnostic test?
Well the tender point test was often not performed by GP's or rheumatologists, and when it was it was sometimes not performed correctly. A lot more is now known about additional symptoms like cognitive dysfunction and the new criteria allows for a severity score that will help evaluation of patients with marked symptom variability. Read More...

Reminder for Elvis Charity tribute show
To celebrate Fibromyalgia Awareness week and the 75th year since the birth of Elvis we are proud to announce the “Ultimate Tribute Elvis Charity Show” which will raise funds for Merseyside & Wirral Fibromyalgia Group and Wrexham Fibromyalgia Support Group. Read more....