12th May is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) International Awareness Day and is also promoted as World ME Day.
On this important day, organisations and individuals recognise and support the millions of people world-wide who are affected by ME/CFS and other chronic immunological and neurologic diseases by raising public awareness. In fact, 12th May is International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND). The CIND illnesses include Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia (FM), Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
12th May was chosen as it is the birthday (in 1820) of the pioneering British army nurse, Florence Nightingale, who inspired the establishment of the International Red Cross; the world’s first secular School of Nursing (at St Thomas’ Hospital in London) and is recognised as ‘The Founder of Professional Nursing’. She came to prominence for her work during the Crimean War becoming an icon of nursing in the persona of “The Lady with the Lamp” making rounds of wounded soldiers at night. In recognition of her pioneering nursing work, the Nightingale Pledge is taken by new nurses in the United States, and the Florence Nightingale Medal, the highest international distinction a nurse can achieve, is named in her honour.
It is a lesser known fact that Florence Nightingale was bedridden for a long period of her later life due to an unidentified chronic illness which has subsequently been attributed to M.E. Drawing inspiration from her life and work, US M.E. advocate Tom Hennesey launched the first International ME Awareness Day in 1992. Since then, International ME Awareness Day has become the focal point for many awareness raising, lobbying, and other M.E. initiatives globally.
On 12th May 2022, the World ME Alliance, launched World ME Day which aims to set aside a day to focus on learning about, raising awareness of, and campaigning around Myalgic Encephalomyeltitis.
It has also been a feature on 12th May for notable landmarks to be illuminated in blue (the colour designated for ME) in solidarity with all those affected. In 2022 Perth was bathed in blue for the night, 2023 was marked in a similar fashion by landmarks in Glasgow, and 2024 Inverclyde answered ME Research UK’s call. This year, the four constituent nations of the UK unite to mark International ME Awareness Day with Northern Ireland’s Parliament Buildings, Belfast City Hall, Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Edinburgh’s Camera Oscura, the BT Tower, Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Cardiff Castle, Perth, and Aberdeen Council’s HQ illuminated in blue.
