FUNDRAISERS pulling out the stops for Children in Need have been given a reminder of the causes that benefit from their efforts.

The Dorset ME Support Group has received a grant of over £40,000 from Children in Need to provide a support worker to help young sufferers cope with the illness.

Hazel Matthews has been appointed to work with those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or its more severe form, ME, and their families.

Dorset CFS/ME Service team leader Barbara Goodchild said: "We are a very small therapy team so to have somebody like her means she can follow up all our programmes in children's homes and in the hospital. She's a tremendous support."

She added that the specialist CFS team was one of only ten groups across the country.

Mrs Goodchild said: "We are very lucky to have a service at all, we need to support is as much as possible."

The Dorset ME Support Group and the Dorset CFS/ME Service also put on a conference and workshop at Kingston Maurward College.

More than 70 people attended including representatives from schools, social care and health professionals.

They received information through a series of presentations and a session with four young ME sufferers.

Support group trustee John Arscott said: "They are to be congratulated for their mature and articulate contributions. We learnt so much from them."

Mrs Goodchild added: "We are now setting up a working party and quite a few have volunteered."