AT THE beginning of April we launched a competition to design an eye-catching poster to raise public awareness of the illness M E (myalgic encephalomyelitis) during the week May 10-16, 2009.

It got off to a very slow start and we began to fear that we had a flop on our hands.

But, by the third week we had reached places as far apart as South Devon and Stornoway.

We have had so many entries of truly stunning, professional, quality that, in addition to the one for M E Awareness Week, we are going to have a different theme for every month of the year.

To share out the cost and energy, which would be impossible for only a few people to bear, we are looking for local representatives in every part of the UK to cover a two or three-mile radius from their homes, which would be easily manageable and affordable for each.

Some overlapping would be no bad thing to ensure that we cover every inch of the country.

The job is simple enough: one of our art experts will make sure the poster for each particular month is ready to go and fits comfortably on a piece of A4 paper.

You just have to hit the button on your printer, run off as many as you can display locally and then hoof them around.

If you have a super-duper printer, or a friend will let you use theirs, so much the better.

But quality is much less important than getting them up there, so don't let that hold you back from volunteering.

That's all it will cost you: some paper, ink and shoe leather. You don't need to make an extra chore of it; just do it when out shopping or taking the dog for a walk.

Everyone is very welcome to join in, whether you are just starting out, or already have some contacts in a local M E group.

You don't need to have M E yourself, or know anyone with it, to do us a big favour every month.

You might make some new friends on the way.

We need you right now, so please send us an e-mail to info@mefreeforall.org with the words MEFFA Local Rep in the subject line.

We'll give you some advice on how to make the best impact locally.

Together, we can cover the whole country.

Thank you. DR JOHN H GREENSMITH

ME Free For All.org 36a North Street

Downend

Bristol BS16 5SW drjohngreensmith@me freeforall.org