Schoolgirl helps pain sufferers

Justine was forced to give up sport at school

A Tyneside schoolgirl is helping to highlight a debilitating illness which makes it difficult for her to walk.

Justine Tovey, 14, of Boldon Colliery, is helping to create a special support web site for sufferers of fibromyalgia in South Tyneside.

She was asked to help by the mayor of South Tyneside, who also suffers from the chronic pain disorder.

The two became friends when Justine joined a local support group as its youngest member.

Justine joined a team of web designers at South Tyneside Council, which includes her father Martin, who are in the process of putting together a support internet site.

While there, she was asked by mayor, Councillor John Wood, to help design a support site for people with fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder from which they both suffer.

Young people

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a widespread musculoskeletal disorder for which the cause is still unknown. It is a debilitating condition that causes a great deal of pain and tiredness.

It develops over time and affects more women than men.

Justine, a pupil at Boldon School, said: "The mayor knew I was good with computers so he asked me to get involved in setting up the site being developed by the council web team to promote the support group."

She said she hoped her work would help to highlight the difficulties surrounding the condition, especially amongst young people.

Justine, who undergoes intensive physiotherapy at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital to enable her to walk without the aid of a stick, has had to give up sport at school.

Councillor Wood said: "I knew about Justine's skill with computers and was convinced she would do an excellent job helping the council web team design this new site for which no launch date has yet been set."

The Fibromyalgia Support Group in South Shields is the only group of its kind in South Tyneside.