A Luton couple who overcame a mysterious chronic fatigue illness are due to walk the Great Wall of China to raise funds and awareness of a disease that affects an estimated 240,000 people across the country.

Mary and Colin Wilson were so ill with ME - myalgic encephalomyelitis -at one stage they were unable to leave their Hardwick Green home.

Mary, 48, who's recently returned to her job as a nursery nurse at Whitefield school in Marsh Farm, said: 'Colin was very poorly. He was bedbound and reacted badly to light and noise. I wasn't quite so bad - I could get down the stairs and lie on the settee.'

She said: 'I caught a virus and wasn't diagnosed for five months. But then I read up about it and started pacing myself. Colin's symptoms were different, but the pattern of the illness was the same. He tried to build himself up quicker than I did and became severely affected. He was very ill for a year.'

They were put in touch with a healer who managed to get them on the road to recovery. Electrical engineer Colin, 47, was so impressed he's training to learn the combination of therapies so he can help other sufferers

The M.E. helpline is open Monday to Friday from 11am to 1pm and Monday evening from 6.30pm to 8.30pm on 0845 123 2314.

Click here to find out more about ME

If you'd like to sponsor the Wilsons' walk, in October,click here to visit their fundraising website