A Cumbrian farming couple attended Westminster to mark Carers Week.
Yvette and Andrew Jackson run the fourth-generation Littlebeck Farm, an 180-acre beef and sheep farm near Penrith.
Andrew was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome 13 years ago.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, is a multi-systemic disease. Symptoms include profound fatigue, sleep disturbance, post-exertional malaise, cognitive difficulties and a range of other symptoms like pain, headaches, nausea and intolerance to lights and noise.
At the national event at Portcullis House, the pair joined the ME Association, to help raise awareness about unpaid carers and the challenges they face.
Yvette, who is Andrew’s primary carer, advocated for greater understanding and support for both people living with ME/CFS and the unpaid carers who support them.
During the event, Yvette and Andrew engaged directly with MPs and peers, highlighting the life-changing impact ME/CFS can have, not only on those diagnosed, but also on the families and loved ones who provide ongoing care.
They spoke about the complexities of caring in a rural setting, as well as the challenges of continuing to run a farm while managing a chronic illness.
Yvette said: “Taking our story and experiences to the Parliamentary event was incredibly important to us.
“It gave Andrew and I the opportunity to share the reality of living with ME/CFS and what it means to be a carer, something that is often unseen and misunderstood.
“Speaking directly with MPs and peers means our voices, and the voices of so many others in similar situations, are being heard where it matters most.
“Real change can only happen when decision-makers truly understand the impact that ME/CFS has on families like ours.”
Yvette and Andrew spoke with MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, Tim Farron and spent time sharing an insight into their experiences of caring and living with ME/CFS.
They also engaged with other MPs, giving them a platform to share their story, including Tess Munt, MP for Wells and Mendip Hills and chair of APPG on ME, and John Lamont, MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, plus others.
