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.
September 2022
Kia ora and Welcome to the Mighty Waikato
Spring is in the air and just around the corner. Bring it on I say!!! I am over the wet weather and so looking forward to having some sunshine on my face again. I am looking forward to seeing the flowers spring from their buds and bring colour back into the dreary landscape. The colour of mud and the soggy land really is very dull and unappealing. I love these words by Angie Weilands-Crosby “During the wild uncertainty of a frightened land, Spring reached out her mystical hand; willing to give us hope”. I think she describes what I am feeling really well at present. But also I can relate this to how one living with chronic ill health may feel – How sunshine, the colours of spring, and a warmer dryer climate can stir seedlings of hope, once buried deep in the dark undergrowth of despair.
Mindfulness and gratitude are great tools to use that inspire and grow hope, and springtime is the best and easiest time of year to practice these great strategies!! So, if you are feeling flat, down, discouraged, or a bit winter bluey, I encourage you to look out the window, or get outside if you can, and be awed by nature – Find three things each day that stand out to you that you can admire and observe, such as the colour of a budding flower, a buzzing bumblebee going about its business, a sleeping cat, a bird feeding its family in a nest, or a sunrise / set or moon rise / set. Fall in love with the beauty of nature.
I may be sick to death of the dreary winter, but I was in awe of this sunrise the other day hinting at a stormy day ahead.
P.S. If you are feeling low in mood at present, please reach out to your Health and Wellness Facilitator.
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?
