Bought-on BBC Radio Norfolk

On Monday, May 12th, 2025, I was honoured to appear on BBC Radio Norfolk with Edd Smith to mark International CFS/M.E. Awareness Day—a deeply personal cause.

At the age of 11, I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.). It’s a condition that completely changed the course of my childhood, education, and early life. For those unfamiliar with CFS/M.E., it’s a complex and often misunderstood illness that causes extreme fatigue, cognitive issues, and a range of physical symptoms that can fluctuate day to day.

Living with an invisible illness from such a young age was isolating. Friends and even adults didn’t always understand what I was going through. I missed school, hobbies, and social life for years, not because I didn’t want to participate, but because my body wouldn’t allow it.

But I’m also incredibly proud to share that, 15 years later, I’m living in recovery and running my own business: Boughton Marketing. It hasn’t been a straightforward path, and recovery from CFS/M.E. looks different for everyone. For me, it’s meant rebuilding my life, regaining confidence, and learning how to manage my health to support long-term sustainability and growth.

In the interview, I spoke about:

• My experience of being diagnosed with CFS/M.E.

• The challenges of growing up with a long-term invisible illness

• What recovery looks like today

• How my journey inspired me to create and grow my own business

• The importance of greater awareness and support for young people living with chronic conditions

You can listen to the full interview here: BBC Sounds – Grace Boughton on BBC Radio Norfolk
My conversation with Edd Smith starts at 1 hour 41 minutes into the show.