MEET THE TEAM

Joan McParland MBE - Founder and Coordinator

Joan worked as a School Meals Organiser for the Southern Education & Library Board, for over 20 years before a viral infection in 1999 left her severely ill with M.E. and left totally reliant on, and cared for by her Mum, husband and young son.
 

After years of being bedbound, she began connecting with others online and started researching the illness.
 

In 2011, she founded the support group, driven by her lived experience, passion for truth, and determination, that no patient or family is left devastated and alone in the search for answers.

Eilidh Gilmour - Chairperson and Parent Representative

Eilidh is a former teacher and mother to a daughter diagnosed as a child with M.E. in 2013, when she was only 11 years of age.

Eilidh joined the committee in early 2017, and quickly took on the role of parent representative. In 2025 she undertook role of Chairperson.

She is keen to use her new role to stand up for the rights of young people with M.E.

Hugh Boyle - Vice Treasurer

Hugh built a successful restaurant business in Newry before developing a viral illness in 1999 that led to M.E., forcing him to pass the business on to his son.
 

Reconnecting with Joan in 2011, he used his business and financial skills to help establish the support group.

Hugh's committment to the charity’s values from 2011 has been invaluable and he continues to oversee its financial spending and commitment

Linda Campbell - Healthcare Professional Educational Advisor

Linda’s son developed M.E. in 2009 while at university, inspiring her focus on the condition. An Advanced Nurse Practitioner with a Masters in Advanced Nursing Practice, she has a special interest in M.E., Fibromyalgia, and Long Covid.

Linda joined the committee in 2021 as Healthcare Professional Educational Advisor, and served as Chair from 2022–2024.

She remains committed in her educational role to advancing awareness and education through partnerships with Queen's and Ulster University and Northern Ireland statutory health organisations.

Catherine Lynch - Membership Secretary and Vice Chair

Catherine is the mother of a young adult with M.E., diagnosed in 2016, at just 12 years of age.

Catherine works full-time in a Health and Wellbeing Department within a local Council.

Catherine joined the Committee in 2018, and currently holds the position of Membership Secretary. She is passionate about raising M.E. awareness for all age groups, and helping out behind the scenes as well.

Kathryn McGowan - Secretary/Admin Support, Hope Crafts Helper

Kathryn is a former Personal Administration and Accounts Assistant. She was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2009.
 

During the pandemic, Kathryn developed severe COVID pneumonia and was subsequently diagnosed with Long Covid in 2021, followed by a diagnosis of Post-Covid M.E. in 2024.

She is also a mother to a daughter who was diagnosed with M.E. in 2018 at just 14 years old. Despite her own health challenges, Kathryn volunteers with the charity to support fellow sufferers, their families, and carers.

Rachel Carlisle - Administrative Assistant

Rachel lives with several chronic health conditions, including M.E./CFS, Fibromyalgia, PoTS, hEDS, and MCAS. After a significant decline in her health, she became passionate about supporting others facing similar challenges.

She joined the Committee in 2019 as admin support and Zoom coordinator and is keen to use her lived experience to help other patients and their families who are living with M.E., Fibromyalgia, and related conditions.

May Patton - Catering Manager

Since 2011, May (Joan’s mum) has been a vital support to the charity, ensuring every meeting and conference was warm and welcoming with tea, food, and hospitality.

She manages awareness ribbon orders, prepares mailings, and for many years carried out post office and bank lodgement runs to Newry. May also generously provided land for the charity’s garden office, saving all costs on rent and rates.

Until 2024 she assisted at every charity event, while also caring for her family and supporting Joan through long periods of illness. Her dedication and practical help remain invaluable to the charity’s work.

Jill Freeburn - Sub Committee

Jill has lived with fibromyalgia for over 20 years and, despite her health restrictions, has been a dedicated supporter of the charity

She manages eight coin collection boxes across shops and supermarkets in Bessbrook, personally counting the donations each month and lodging them with the bank.

As Joan’s cousin, Jill has been instrumental in raising over £2,000 annually, demonstrating her determination to help the charity support patients and invest in biomedical research. Her commitment and persistence have made significant and invaluable contributions to the charity’s work.

Heather Ward - Sub Committee

Heather worked as a nurse, then a Senior Health and Safety Manager for a global construction company, until becoming ill with a virus in 2010 and not getting better.

She was eventually diagnosed with ME and POTS. No longer able to continue in her much loved career, she was forced to return home to be cared for by her family in 2012.

Heather remains mostly bed/house bound but when able, she organises small social gatherings for members living on the North coast and raises funds for the charity through selling May awareness ribbons and takes every opportunity to educate people about M.E.

Claire Kennedy - Sub Committee

Claire, a former graphic designer and technician, became severely disabled in 2017 after developing M.E. and fibromyalgia.
 

Drawing on her artistic background, she founded Hope Crafts—an online creative community that helps people living with chronic illness explore art, find joy, and express themselves. Though balancing her own health is not always easy, Claire is dedicated to fostering creativity and giving others something meaningful to look forward to.

Chloe McGowan - Sub Committee

Chloé was diagnosed with M.E. at the age of 14 in 2018 and later with ADD/ADHD in 2024. She joined the sub-committee in 2023.

Her passion is centred on ensuring that individuals feel listened to and supported. She is committed to helping people recognise their strengths, express themselves through creativity, and build resilience while living with challenges.

Chloé also values fostering positive connections with people from all backgrounds. She holds two counselling qualifications and a diploma in creative art, which she draws upon in her work with the charity.

Gary Campion - Sub Committee

Gary works as a part-time Civil Servant who had the onset of M.E. following a life-changing equestrian accident in 2014.
 

Since his diagnosis, Gary has played a huge part in our education and research projects, and his invaluable fundraising efforts continue, when he is able, around his condition and work.

The proceeds of Gary’s two annual raffle fundraisers have been vital in supporting charity activities, and his skills as a compere have made our online Christmas parties especially fun and memorable, in particular for our house/bedbound members. 

Aileen McCullough - Sub Committee

Aileen lived with M.E. for several years before her condition became much more severe in 2008, cutting short her career in mental health and community development in her mid-20s.
 

She had worked with the NI Association of Mental Health and the Tyrone Donegal Partnership on cross-border and international projects, and completed a placement with the Red Cross in Canada.

Aided by her sons James and Ryan, and when health allows, Aileen has continued to contribute her time and skills to the charity, where she has volunteered for over a decade.

Rebecca Logan - Sub Committee

Rebecca worked as an Emergency Department nurse and fitness instructor until a Covid infection in 2020, led to Post-Covid M.E. and the loss of her career.
 

Now living with severe disability, she is determined to raise awareness and supports education on post-viral illness.
 

Since 2023 she has contributed to annual teaching sessions on M.E. into Cork University and since 2025, for student nurses at Queen’s University Belfast, secured through the charity’s approach to the University.

Dr. William Weir - Medical Advisor

Dr Weir is a retired Infectious Diseases Consultant, from the Royal Free Hospital, London, with a special interest in the immunology of infectious diseases and ME/CFS.

He still works in a private capacity as a Specialist Consultant in ME/CFS, from his Clinic in Harley Street, London. In addition, he periodically travels to Northern Ireland to see patients with ME/CFS, and to present at conferences arranged by the Charity.

Dr Weir assisted the UK Government’s CFS/ME Working Group, which produced a comprehensive advisory report for the UK Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson.

He also served on the UK Government’s ME/CFS Guideline Development Group, tasked with developing official treatment guidelines for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Professor Tom Trinick - Medical Advisor

Prof. Trinick is triple accredited in General Medicine, Endocrinology & Diabetes, and Chemical Pathology. He served as Clinical Director of Laboratory Medicine at South Eastern Trust and ran clinics in lipid management, testosterone deficiency, and general medicine for over 30 years.

He also treated patients with M.E., CFS, Post-Viral Syndrome, and Long Covid at the Ulster Hospital Fatigue Clinic, and now continues to support patients privately in Belfast. Prof. Trinick has served on multiple Department of Health committees and now offers his expertise to support our Trustees during negotiations with healthcare decision makers. Since 2024 he has become a powerful speaker at our events. 

Professor Trinick was awarded an OBE in 2015.

Prof. Brian Hughes - Scientific Advisor

Professor in Psychology, and a specialist in stress psychophysiology, health psychology, the public understanding of psychology and science, and the application of psychology to social issues.

A prominent advocate for scientific psychology, evidence-based policy, and the role of psychology in society, he writes widely on the psychology of empiricism and of empirically disputable claims, especially as they pertain to science, health, medicine, and politics.

He is a member of the HSE (Ireland) National Working Group on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and has presented at many of our Charity events including Stormont, and including a Newry, joint presentation with David Tuller PhD. 

Dr. Nigel Speight - Paediatric Advisor

Dr. Speight, formerly Consultant Paediatrician at University Hospital, North Durham, is now semi-retired and specialises in paediatric ME/CFS. He has been a strong advocate for children and young people with the condition, often advising in cases of inequality in health, social care, or education.

A recognised medical authority, Dr. Speight has contributed to major international case definitions, including the 2011 International Consensus Criteria and the 2017 Paediatric Primer.
 

He also served on the CMO’s and RCPCH working parties, and was an expert witness for the 2021 NICE Guideline on ME/CFS. He continues to share his expertise through lectures for our Charity and across Ireland, and by supporting families and clinicians.

Dr. Vance Spence - Scientific Advisor

Dr. Spence, founder and former Director of ME Research UK, led the charity for 18 years, making it the largest funder of biomedical research into ME/CFS outside North America.
 

Now Honorary President, he also helped establish MERGE and serves as Scientific Advisor to the 25% M.E. Group.

A former Principal Clinical Scientist at Dundee University, his own experience of M.E. after glandular fever inspired his return as Honorary Senior Research Fellow to drive biomedical research into this neglected illness. Dr. Spence was a keynote speaker at the charity's annual conference in Stormont in 2014.