A Forgotten Illness Without a Cure

A quarter of a million people in the UK suffer from the world's last un-researched major disease known as ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis)/CFS. Missing from their lives, many are invisible, confined to their beds and homes. For the less afflicted, daily life means dealing with a wide range debilitating and often painful symptoms.

People are usually ill for several years, many for decades. 75% cannot work or care for their families as they would wish to. And the fun and enjoyment of life is out of reach physically and financially. In short, they're subject to a living hell.

Worst of all, there's very little funding for biomedical research so there's no treatment and no cure.

The aim is to raise awareness of this disease and help improve bio-medical research funding as well as making people with an invisible illness visible again.

ME sufferers in our community will have their lost lives represented by pairs of shoes or photographs of their shoes. Each pair will be labelled with the individual's name, length of illness and what they miss doing.

Donations will be used to pay for marketing activities including paid social media promotion, banners and the printing costs associated with the event. Any money left over will be donated to Invest in ME that conducts research into ME amongst other chronic conditions.

People with ME often cannot work or can only work a limited amount due to their disability. That's why we rely on the generosity of those who are fortunate enough to have their health to help us.

Please give something - just £20 will boost a Facebook post to around 6,000 people. The more people we can get to hear about the event, the bigger the splash we'll make and the more likely we are to generate understanding, support and change.