A TEENAGER'S pledge to raise awareness of the illness which has blighted her life for five years led to her writing an article for a national newspaper.

Jane Fawcett, who lives on her family's farm in Arkengarthdale, penned a gruelling account of her battle with myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Its publication in the Daily Telegraph last Friday was a milestone in the 17-year-old's campaign to make people more aware of the disease and how it can rob people of their youth.

ME, officially recognised by the Department of Health in January 2002, is believed to affect more than 25,000 under-18s. Symptoms include acute fatigue, headaches, neurological problems, insomnia and severe pain.

During ME awareness week in May last year, Miss Fawcett wrote to several national newspapers and television and radio stations to promote the event. As a result, she was asked to write an article for the Telegraph.

The Richmond School student wrote about the difficulties she encountered in gaining her GCSE exams at a time when walking around school left her in so much pain that she would cry all night.

She was diagnosed in autumn 1999 after suffering severe throat and ear infections, pain and constant tiredness.

Until then, she had played hockey and football and was a member of Reeth junior band and the local scout group.

"I hardly had the energy to stand up," she said. "All I could do was wake up late, then make it downstairs to the sofa and just lie down. After an hour or two my mum would bring my clothes downstairs, so that I could slowly get dressed."

With the help of tutors and friends, Miss Fawcett managed to gain nine GCSEs, including an A* and two As, last year, studying at home when her illness was too bad for her to attend school.

"At the beginning of my course, I managed three full days in school but, afterwards, my legs hurt so much from walking around that I cried continuously for a few nights," she said.

Travelling to and from school from home at Ravens Park, one of the most remote farms in the dale, added to her fatigue.

After nine months, she managed to persuade the school to allow her to use a wheelchair and, with the help of a classroom assistant, she attended lessons. The assistant pushed the chair, took notes when Miss Fawcett tired and collected work she had missed. She is now studying for A levels in maths, English language and art.

Miss Fawcett joined the Association for Young People with ME and the Tymes Trust, which also supports sufferers. Through the organisations, she has made penpals who share the condition.

Her mother, Gill Fawcett, is full of praise for her daughter's courage.

"In spite of the struggle she had to study for her GCSEs, she managed to do some work nearly every day, but she puts everything into her school work and has no social life," she said. "We are very proud of her, but it was such a struggle trying to explain to people how she is. There are still some people who are sceptical about ME. Jane doesn't really look ill, but there are times when she can hardly stand.

"That's why we are so keen to raise awareness of this awful illness and why she worked so hard contacting the media."

Miss Fawcett praised her two best friends for sticking by her in spite of her frequent absences from school.

"My family and I just hope that, one day, I will improve, be able to live the life of a normal teenager and catch up on all the years that I have missed out on," she said.

* The Association of Young People with ME can be contacted on 01908 373300 or at www.ayme.org.uk. The Tymes Trust can be contacted on 01245 401080 or at www.youngactiononline.com.