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Event on 10 May, 2024

May Awareness 2024

Thank you to all those who have supported the variety of events held again this year to raise awareness.
May Awareness continued into June with the Parliament House event on the 18th.

Click on the photos to enlarge.

Have a cuppa for M.E. 

Thank you to those who have held a 'Have a cuppa for M.E.' morning or afternon tea during May to raise awareness and funds to support those with ME. 

Grill'd Unley fundraiser 

Thank you to all our wonderful supporters for getting behind this fundraiser.

#MillionsMissing social catch-up 

On Friday 17 May, ME/CFS South Australia members met up in a private home to mark the global event #MillionsMissing, and ME/CFS International Awareness month.

#MillionsMissing Parliament House event 

Originially scheduled for May, this event was postponed to 18 June.

Experience the Parliament House event here

Watch video stories of lived-experience, speeches by three Ministers and ME/CFS SA, and watch the #MillionsMissing slide show; download the pamphlet on ME/CFS; and view all the photos. This brief but powerful gathering promises to be a new beginning for South Australians with #MECFS and #LongCOVID, and those who care for them.

SA Power Networks digital billboard 

We are grateful to SA Power Networks for their continuing support for May awareness by displaying our poster on their digital billboard throughout May.

The SAPN digital billboard is on the major intersection of Greenhill Road and Anzac Highway and  is seen by thousands of commuters each day.

#LightUpTheNight 

We are thankful to all the the locations for their ongoing support.

Adelaide Oval, 12 May
Parliament House, 12 May
SAHMRI, 12 May
Uni SA Bradley Building, 12 May
Unley Town Hall

Australian Government Dept of Health and Aged Care 

Au Gov Dept of Health FB Awareness 2024

We were pleased to have the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care highlight ME/CFS International Awareness again this year on their social media, in response to a request by our peak body, ME/CFS Australia.

It is good to have the day recognised by the Department. Their social media accounts have many followers, including 790,000 for their Facebook page. 


Previous years

See Past Events for previous May Awareness years.

Background to May 12th 

May Awareness Florence Nightingale 960x 960

In 1992, 12 May was chosen as the international awareness day for ME/CFS as it is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of public health and the founder of modern nursing, who suffered for decades with an ME/CFS-like illness.
 

Florence contracted what was called 'Crimean Fever' whilst serving in the Crimean War. After returning home at the age of 38, she spent the next 50 years homebound and bedridden, achieving much of her later work from the confines of her bed.

Ribbonmusk background

In 1995, a blue ribbon was adopted to represent ME/CFS. Ribbons are available from ME/CFS SA for a donation of $1.

Last edited: 06 August, 2024