In order to raise awareness of Fibromyalgia, an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has been set up to bring greater awareness and education of the illness and related problems associated with the condition. It also aims to encourage NHS and other funding for new research projects. At present there is very little research being carried out in the UK and sufferers are told there is no cure. We hope that will be a statement of the past.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition of widespread pain and profound fatigue. The pain tends to be felt as diffuse aching or burning, often described as head to toe. It may be worse at some times than at others. It may also change location, usually becoming more severe in parts of the body that are used the most. The fatigue ranges from feeling tired, to the exhaustion of a flu-like illness. It may come and go and people can suddenly feel drained of all energy - as if someone just "pulled the plug".

There are treatments available which can alleviate some of the symptoms but the majority of these are in the private sector and as most sufferers are forced into early retirement, or cannot work at all, the cost of such treatment is prohibitive.