Waikato
Saya
Starting February 2025, until then, all contact details remain active and all members will be looked after by other Facilitators
Health and Wellness Facilitator
Tuesday to Friday 9am till 4.30pm
Phone or Txt: 022 154 7076
[email protected]
Support services for people in the Waikato affected by ME/CFS, were established by Frankie Letford in 1999. Frankie, who saw the need for this provided phone support, newsletters and organised support groups. For 10 years, Frankie coordinated this, as she was able to in a voluntary capacity with support from MS Waikato. With growth came the need to employ a support worker. For a further 12 years, ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia clients were then supported under the umbrella of MS Waikato.
During this time, the group continued to grow considerably, and recently sought to separate itself from MS Waikato to create their own identity. Following discussions with the Bay of Plenty organisation Complex Chronic illness Support Inc. (CCIS) an agreement was made and CCIS has welcomed the ME/CFS group into their midst. The CCIS model for service, is a better fit for supporting those affected by ME/CFS and allied conditions than under the MS umbrella.
“I have been attending the monthly Complex Chronic Illness Support group since March 2021 and I find very helpful not only finding out more about my illness but also talking to others with the same illness.
The facilitator, Tracey Larsen, is a wonderful and incredibly helpful person who has helped me enormously in the short time since my diagnosis.”
From MC.
June 2023
Kia ora and welcome from the Mighty Waikato!
As I write today, the sun is shining, and the sky is blue!! I feel like taking a photo as it feels like such a rare event to have such a cracker day! So as part of my gratitude journal today, I give thanks to this gorgeous day and the lift I feel deep in my soul because of it.
Do you write a gratitude journal? I really encourage you to find three things to be grateful for each day. I know that sometimes it can be a hard thing to to do when you’re feeling gloomy, and the weather of late has really influenced a sense of gloom, that is for sure. So I encourage you to try this for month: You will be amazed at how you can feel lighter and more positive despite the gloom and challenges you may face with illness. Chronic illness can make us become inward thinking and hypervigilant about every nuance that occurs within. Writing a gratitude journal helps to turn your mind outwards on a daily basis to look beyond ourselves. I do find this time of year can be delightful as nature shows off her beauty with the stunning hues of bronze, golds, ambers, deep reds and burgundies in the trees. Just stunning!! So if nothing else, being in awe of the beauty in nature can lift your spirits and help you get through the day. So this can be a good place to start if gratitude journaling is foreign to you.
On another note, due to the volume of referrals to our student counsellors, we have taken on another student counsellor, Shannon from the Waikato. If you are needing counselling support, please remember that we do offer a free service, so let your Health & Wellness Facilitator know so a referral can be actioned.
Take care.
Monthly Members Meetings
Is for all our members who want to attend a monthly meeting but do not have the extra energy to leave their homes
Currently, all Monthly Member Meetings are held online. We welcome you to join us - if you need support getting online, please contact your facilitator and we can have a practice prior to meeting time so that you feel more comfortable on the day.
Social Groups
Hamilton
Young Ladies Hamilton Group
1st Thursday of the month – 1pm
Venue changes so keep an eye on emails and face book.
Te Awamutu
Te Awamutu group meet on the third Thursday of the month. We meet in the afternoons in colder weather and at 10.30am during warmer months.
The venue changes each month, so watch for emails and check the facebook group for updates
Want to Speak to your Health and Wellness Facilitator?
