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Beth French
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'''Beth French''' is British woman who became ill with suspected [[myalgic encephalomyelitis]] (ME) as a child, and is best known as a long-distance swimmer and motivational speaker.<ref name="bethblog" /><ref name=":2" /> French was captain of most of her sports teams when she became ill with ME at age 10. By the age of 17, French found she [[severe and very severe ME |could not get out of bed]] one morning, and needed to use a wheelchair for a time.<ref name="bethblog">{{Cite web | url = http://bethfrench.co.uk/2014/01/22/me-and-the-road-to-recovery/ | title = ME and the road to recovery | last = French | first = Beth | author-link = Beth French | date = Jan 22, 2014 | website = |language=en-US| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2019-03-02}}</ref> == Uncertainty over diagnosis == Beth French first became ill in 1988, at age of just 10 years old, and she spent many of her childhood and teenage years without a diagnosis, and unable to make sense of the illness.<ref name="bethblog" /> She was finally given "a tenuous diagnosis of ME- [[myalgic encephalomyelitis]]" after changing to a new doctor at around 17, and she was advised to rest.<ref name="bethblog" /> == Recovery == [[File:BethFrench-no-ME-cure.png|alt=There's nothing the medical world can do to cure you, you just live with it. - Beth French|thumb|350x350px|"There's nothing the medical world can do to cure you, you just live with it." - Beth French talking about her years ill with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ]] French's illness was most disabling when she was 17, she recovered from ME by age 21, and believes her immune system's reaction to emotional / psychological factors including [[Stress|emotional stress]] triggered her illness.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web | url = http://dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/2016/01/how-beth-french-will-attack-oceans-seven.html | title = How Beth French Will Attack The Oceans Seven | last = Munatones | first = Steven | author-link = | date = | website = |publication-date=Jan 2016| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref> She was advised to totally rest, did not take part in controversial [[Graded exercise therapy|treatments]] involving [[exercise]]. {{Clear}} == Ocean swimming == French had fully recovered by age 21; she was able to swim again and studied in Hawaii.<ref name=":0" /> She began ocean swimming and has never relapsed.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web | url = http://bethfrench.co.uk/ | title = Beth French - Ocean Swimmer, Inspirational Speaker and Swim Coaching | last = French | first = Beth | author-link = Beth French | date = | website = |language=| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref> Beth French swam the English Channel in 2012 at which point she had been free of ME symptoms for around 15 years, without any relapses, though continuing to make significant lifestyle adjustments to maintain her health.<ref name="bethblog" /> In 2014, she became the first person to swim from Cornwall, [[United Kingdom|UK]], to the Isles of Scilly. Beth began the ''Oceans 7'' open water swimming challenge in 2016, completing half of the swims within a year.<ref>{{Cite news |url =https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-40492241 | title = Beth French abandons Ocean's Seven record challenge | last = BBC news | first = | date = Jul 4, 2017|work=[[BBC news]] | access-date = 2019-04-05| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | language=en-GB|quote= | author-link = BBC news}}</ref> == ''Against the Tides'' == ''[[Against the Tides]]'' is a film featuring Beth French, her life and her attempt at the Ocean's Seven open water swimming challenge.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web | url = http://www.twitter.com/against_tides | title = Against the Tides (@against_tides) {{!}} Twitter | website = twitter.com|language=en | access-date = 2019-04-05}}</ref> == Fundraising == French has raised money for several UK charities, including [[Action for ME]] and Level Water, a charity to improve access to swimming for disabled.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.independent.co.uk/i/page-3-profile-beth-french-swimmer-9624406.html | title = Profile: Beth French, swimmer | last = Grant | first = Katie | author-link = | date = Jul 24, 2014 | website = The Independent|language=en| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref> She crowd-funded to raise money for her ocean swimming.<ref name=":1" /> == Talks and interviews == * Aug 05, 2014 - [https://cfsunravelled.com/beth-frenchs-journey-from-me-cfs-to-ultra-marathon-swimmer/ Beth French shares her story of recovery] - cfsunravelled.com by [https://me-pedia.org/wiki/Dan_Neuffer Dan Neuffer] * Apr 18, 2017 - [http://lessonsinbadassery.com/beth-french-swimming-epic-oceans-m-e/ Beth French: epic ocean swimming with ME] - Lessons in Badassery == News coverage == * Jul 4, 2017, [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-40492241 Beth French abandons Ocean Seven Record Challenge] - BBC news * Jul 24, 2014, [https://www.independent.co.uk/i/page-3-profile-beth-french-swimmer-9624406.html Profile: Beth French, swimmer] - ''The Independent'' == Online presence == * [http://bethfrench.co.uk Website] * [http://www.twitter.com/against_tides Against the Tides] - Twitter == See also == * [[Pediatric myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome]] == Learn more == * [http://bethfrench.co.uk Website] == References == {{Reflist}} [[Advocates or allies]] [[Category:British advocates or allies]] [[Category:People with ME, CFS, and/or FMS]] [[Category:British famous people with ME, CFS, and/or FMS]]
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