awareness : ME awareness month (2021) …

Awareness : ME Awareness Month 2021 …

ME awareness day is 12^th May …

May 12^th is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) International Awareness Day. On this special day, most people with ME, even those in the severe category, try to raise awareness and highlight how others can support the millions of people who suffer from ME/CFS.

ME/CFS is a serious, long-term illness that affects many body systems. People with ME/CFS have severe fatigue and sleep problems. ME/CFS symptoms may get worse even after minor physical, mental, or emotional tasks or effort. This phenomenon is known as post-exertional malaise (PEM). Other symptoms can include problems with thinking and concentrating, pain, and dizziness. Often, people with ME/CFS may not be able to do their usual activities. Many adults with ME/CFS are unable to work and long-term unemployment often brings further hardship. When children have this illness, their education is often affected.

Why 12^th May

May 12^th honors the birthday of Florence Nightingale, an important social reformer, statistician, and the founder of modern nursing. Despite being virtually bedridden with a painful and fatiguing illness resembling ME/CFS or fibromyalgia, she established the Nightingale Training School in 1860.

This May 12^th, 2021, marks her 201^st birthday and the 29th year of ME/CFS International Awareness Day.

What Will I Do?

I am thinking I might do the ‘ten books in ten months’ from the ‘[sg_popup id=”4305″ event=”inherit”]power of ten[/sg_popup]’ fundraising ideas published by The ME Trust UK …

What Could You Do?

You could donate to my fundraiser, may I suggest a £1 for each book I manage to read or more if you can afford it. You can read more about this idea and keep an eye on my reading progress on my ‘ten books in ten months’ page. You could also share my website and share anything you know about ME/CFS, and if you want to take part in something special for ME Awareness and raise funds you could also chose anything from that ME Trust UK list above.

There is a saying in relation to ME awareness, which is:

GO BLUE FOR ME …

And so most of us wear blue for, at the very least, the official day but I wear my ‘Go Blue For ME’ t-shirts all month (I buy two new ones each year). You too could buy a Go Blue For ME tee and wear it on 12th May, or anytime come to think of it, and you will be supporting another wonderful ME organisation in the UK. When you do wear it, be prepared and know what ME is and some more specifics surrounding the day because people will ask you questions and you will be surprised about how many people haven’t even heard of ME.