Anna on the mend after fatigue illness

Anna Stephenson was a teenager who embraced life to the full - enjoying the likes of music, dance, drama and sailing.

But the Woodbridge school pupil's life fell apart when she became increasingly tired as she studied for her GCSEs. And then, after achieving six A* and four A grades, Anna became seriously ill with the ME chronic fatigue illness.

She was determined to continue with her studies, but had to give up everything outside school, would go home in the afternoon to sleep before doing her homework and then take to her bed for a 14-hour sleep.

Anna, from Grundisburgh, is now on the road to recovery from a new 'Reverse Therapy' treatment that her family are paying for privately in London.

Now the 18-year old is supporting the ME Research UK charity in its effort to raise awareness of the illness.

Anna, a member of the Suffolk Wind Band and Suffolk Youth Orchestra, said: "You do not realise until you have had ME how little other people know about it. A person who has ME does not look ill. They may not look tired , but it is not as thought they have a broken leg, which is obvious to see. It is such a horrible thing to have to go through, not just for the person but also for family and friends and I would not even want my worst enemy to face it."