ME/CFS Awareness


Awareness is important in order to gain support and understanding from able-bodied people and communities, that will also increase funding for much needed biomedical research.

However, it is particularly difficult for ME/CFS to gain community awareness, since those who are still able to maintain normal life try to hide it to avoid stigma and discrimination, and those who are willing are too sick to go out. People in the community only see people with ME/CFS for only couple of hours or so, when they are having better day/moments. The debilitating suffering is hidden from public eyes.

Thanks to technology and internet, energy challenged people with ME/CFS can network online to support each other. They share information and educate each other from coping strategies to medical information.

Unfortunately, this awareness and knowledge are not reaching to offline community.
I'm hoping that this website could somehow used as a bridge between the online ME/CFS sphere and the offline real community out there.

I would appreciate it very much for your expression of support for people who are affected by ME/CFS.

International ME/CFS Awareness Day - 12 May

12 May is International ME/CFS Awareness Day. It is the birthday of the famous nurse Florence Nightingale, who said to have been suffering from ME/CFS.

Please try to talk about ME/CFS and how you can support people with ME/CFS. If you know someone with ME/CFS, you could send them email, phone or plan a short visit since they are isolated from the community. Please plan this beforehand since they may not be able to tolerate phone call or the visit depending on their day and their severity. However, knowing there are someone care about them and their illness, the lives with ME/CFS can be a little easier to keep going.

If you are feeling generous, please donate to ME/CFS Association or Biomedical Research Advocates of your choice. Biomedical Researches are the vital aspect to find treatment and cure for ME/CFS. 

What you can do online

Please join Blue Ribbon Campaign for ME/CFS online and change your online profile picture and avatar to ME/CFS Awareness blue ribbon badge. You can find the selection of blue ribbon design from here.

Try to read a blog or two that are written by pwME/CFS and understand their lives with ME/CFS are like.

Please go to Facebook group May 12th International ME/CFS & FM Awareness Day page and leave your support comment.

My artist friend RachelCreative designed excellent badges for online awareness. Thanks to her generosity, you can obtain free copy from here.

Or, you can use Twibbon on top of your profile picture or avatar.

What you can do offline at real world community

I would appreciate it very much if you wear blue ribbon to express your support for people affected by ME/CFS on the day and/or the week of 12 May. Please talk about ME/CFS and learn something new about the condition and people with ME/CFS.If you don't know where to obtain the blue ribbon, please try to make some and give extra to your family and friends. I found this instruction at eHow easy to follow. How to Make Awareness Ribbons

If you are feeling energetic, please organise awareness and fund raising event. Please make sure you contact with the charity organisation you are raising money for and get their approval and fund raiser ID. Without this arrangement, your fund raising activity is illegal...


Some of the awareness and fund raising projects and ideas