https://www.meresearch.org.uk/spend-christmas-with-me/ Spend Christmas with ME 2 December 2024 Tina Katsaros – a PhD student at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, who is working on research funded by ME Research UK, has organised a festive online community event to bring together people with lived experience of ME/CFS and researchers in the field this Christmas. The event will take place from to the 20th – 25th of December, and use the social media hashtag “#SpendChristmasWithME” There are several ways you can get involved (and use the hashtag #SpendChristmasWithME in social media posts to let others know you are taking part if you wish to): Wear something festive – and post a photo if you wish. Watch a seasonal film from the comfort of your own home knowing others are watching along on the same day (don’t forget your snacks!): 20th of December: The Santa Clause & Jingle all the way 21st of December: The Polar Express & Elf 22nd of December: Die Hard & How the Grinch Stole Christmas 23rd of December: Love Actually & The Holiday 24th of December: Nightmare before Christmas & Home Alone Listen to your favourite Christmas song (even if it is Mariah Carey) and share with the community what it is, and why you chose it. If you are able, donate the cost of a drink and mince pie – or your favourite Christmas snack, to ME Research UK via PayPal. On her social media posts about the event, Tina writes: “Christmas is my favourite holiday, especially because the whole family comes together, it’s just a loud day full of food and fun. And then I thought about the fact that this image of Christmas isn’t a reality for a lot of people. There are people with ME/CFS and Long Covid who sit in complete darkness, crash just having other people in the room, and are completely isolated, alone in their room. And while I know this isn’t the reality for every person with ME/CFS and Long Covid, it is for many, or a milder version of this. I then started thinking of a way to unite people with ME/CFS and Long Covid and a way to connect them. I don’t think anyone should feel alone during Christmas. So, if you are someone with ME/CFS or Long Covid, have a loved one with the disease, are a researcher in the field, or just want to support this campaign, please share some festive activities that you are taking part in over December, especially Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and make sure to use the hashtag #SpendChristmasWithME. I would also like to point out that without organisations like ME Research UK, ME/CFS research would be practically impossible. So, much like ME Research UK supports research into ME/CFS, let’s do our part and support ME Research UK with a small donation this Christmas. It does not have to be much, can be as simple as the price of a cup of coffee or a gingerbread man. But every dollar goes towards finding answers for this disease.”
