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.
July 2021 Update
Kia ora and welcome from the Mighty Waikato
I hope you are all well and enduring the changeable weather. Winter is letting us know it is well and truly here now with rain, wind and frosts. I hope those who find the cold difficult to bear are keeping warm and snug. And I know there are those of you who love the cold, so are finally getting a reprieve from some of your symptoms. Enjoy!
May was an exciting month with Dr Vallings speaking in Hamilton. In her usual style, she presented a compelling talk with the latest research updates and information regarding the link between ME and Covid -19. We had record numbers attend too, with over 80 people filling the hall. Half of those attending were members of the public in response to a newspaper article published in three rural townships outside of Hamilton. This highlights that ME/CFS/FM is more prevalent than I thought. Following on from this, our Waikato membership numbers continue to grow steadily. In a typical year I would gain 20-25 new clients, but I have gained this many in 2 months!!
CCIS 40th birthday was celebrated in style which included a brilliant seminar with Dr Vallings, Prof. Warren Tate and Dr Vallings daughter Dr Sarah Dalziel. It was great to see some of our Waikato community present and to meet members from the other regions. For those unable to attend, a link to the you tube video will soon be available which I will forward to you.
Our support groups continue to be well attended. Many reported enjoying the social group held at the Jukebox Café in Dinsdale, as it helps to ease the sense of isolation through connecting with others paddling the same waka. Many look forward to the catchup as a treat to get out of the house for a small time, and to be among others who “get them”. The Young Ladies social group is now into its 4th month and is going well also. Our Te Awamutu group, run by Fiona, also continues to be a place where the local members find a nice refuge of support and friendship. A social group in Cambridge has just been established too, as numbers are growing in this area. Keep an eye on your email/text for further details for those who live in this area.
Until next time, I hope you stay warm and cosy. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out and make contact. You can phone or text me on 022 1547076 or email me at [email protected]
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?
