Matched March Donations Offer!

We've had a brilliant response to our invitation to help us hit £1million fundraising target for Invest in ME Research Funds by May, including this very kind message from supporters who wish to remain anonymous: 

"We are so impressed by the LDIFME team and all their efforts to support biomedical research into ME with Invest in ME that we would like to donate £1000 for a matching donation effort in aid of the wonderful new March on a Million challenge. Please keep up the impressive and crucial support for the charity and for ME patients".

What a lovely surprise!

We share these wonderful supporters' hope that this may inspire others to offer matching donation amounts. If so, please get in touch and we look forward to hearing from you. 

The matching amount (up to £1000 in total) will be added as an offline donation to the JustGiving page at the end of March.  Gift Aid (extra from the government for eligible UK tax-payers donations) will be an added bonus towards the £1million fundraising target, so don't forget to tick the box if this applies to you. The month's marching on so don't delay  - spread the word to donate today :) 

1st APRIL UPDATE: You did it! Thanks so much for your support and again of course, to our kind matching sponsors.  Their £1000 has been added as an offline donation to add to the totals on the Let's Do It For ME JustGiving page (link below).  Hang on, it's 1st of the new month? On with Ruth Gilchrist's One Day - One Pound!  THANK YOU each and every one!  http://blog.ldifme.org/2012/06/one-day-one-pound.html

Ways to donate for this matching offer. 

JustGiving (worldwide - minimum donation £2 - includes PayPal)
https://www.justgiving.com/ldifme

or 

JustTextGiving  (UK only) 

Text: BMER99 - £1-£5 or £10 - to 70070 

You can choose to add your name and Gift Aid by text if eligible. 

Text donations add to the totals on the Just Giving link above. 

Paypal

paypal@investinme.org

Bank Transfer

Bank: Lloyds TSB Eastleigh

Sorting code: 30-92-94

Account number: 02252685

Bank Transfer from outside the UK

IBAN: GB63 Loyd 3092 9402 2526 85

BIC/SWIFT: LOYDGB21209

Cheque

Payable to ‘Invest in ME’ to:

Invest in ME
PO Box 561,

Eastleigh,

Hampshire,

SO50 0GQ

UK tax-payers can add Gift Aid - Invest in ME Gift Aid form

To read more about our £1m challenge -

http://blog.ldifme.org/2015/03/lets-march-on-million.html

BIG THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

& THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR BIG CAUSE

Let's Do It For ME!

*Let's Do It For ME! is a patient-driven campaign helping to raise awareness of the work of independent UK charity Invest in ME (Research) and funds for the biomedical research into myalgic encephalomyelitis that the charity is organising and/or funding. Invest in ME is run entirely by unpaid volunteers who either have ME or are parents and carers of ME patients. They are driving the agenda of scientific biomedical research into diagnostic tests and treatments for myalgic encephomyelitis in UK in collaboration with international researchers of world renown. 2015 marks the 10th year of amazing progress made by this small charity with a BIG cause - will you help them make it the best yet? Let's do it for Invest in ME!*

ME Awareness - Makayla & Mummy

Makayla and Mummy

Michelle Nunn wrote:

At the age of just 8 being told you have ME must be awful, you're told how you have to change your life, schooling etc. etc, it's bad enough that you're not well enough to play with your friends this is not what childhood is about!!!. But yet this brave amazing little girl has never complained or given up hope. Three and a half years later she's still holding on to this hope that one day. So to make that one day real for her and so many others she's set about raising money for IiME Charity by taking part in a sponsored horse walk. Please sponsor this brave little girl in her challenge even if its a £1 its £1 close to that hope for her and so many.  Thank you a very proud Mummy. 

Having a child with this illness is nearly as isolating as a adult with this illness.  You lose so many friends as they just don't get it, yet the support we have been shown by everyone re her sponsored walk has been amazing. Seeing her face when I tell her someone we don't know has sponsored her is priceless.  She smashed her £150 target and now she wants to get to the £1000 - please help her no matter how small it still brings a massive smile to her face.  Thank you all.

Makayla Nunn

Makayla's story:

At the young age of 8, I was diagnosed with the debilitating illness ME.

This illness had changed so much of my young life, turning my world upside down. Yet I have never given up HOPE.

I would like to join others in a sponsored horse walk on the 10th May 2015.

I suffer with exhaustion and pain so this is not going to be easy for me but I wouldn't have it any other way. Please show me your support and give me HOPE that I can do this.

Text WFME55 £1 (or £2-£5/£10) to 70070
or donate to
Makayla's Horse Walk on JustGiving
https://www.justgiving.com/michelle-nunn1/

UPDATE:  Congratulations to Makayla and big THANKS to her kind sponsors on reaching the new target this plucky little girl had set herself of £1000!  Michelle wrote: "Thank you all so much for once ME has given my little girl something to smile at and for her to say take that ME with all your kind help she has raised over £1000 (without gift aid) one very happy little girl and a proud mum. THANK U ALL."

Makayla's fundraising page remains open and her Horse Walk is planned for 10th May.

Created by Michelle Nunn

Meanwhile, if you would like one of these delightful teddy bear pictures (left) with your name on it to show your support for ME Awareness, then just let us or Michelle know when you donate to Makayla's Horse Walk and she will send it to your inbox.  You can comment on this blog or contact Michelle directly via this post in Invest in ME Facebook - http://on.fb.me/1FWmF5G

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

*****
Let's Do It For ME is an awareness and fundraising campaign in support of Invest in ME Charity. We are aiming to reach a million pounds for Invest in ME Research Funds in 2015 - please click here for March 2015 press release and details - http://bitly.com/1zZWp4l

Charity Today News!

Charity Today

UPDATE 16th March:  You did it! Invest in ME got the most nominations and won!  More news on this when we have it. Meanwhile, well done and big THANKS everyone for nominating Invest in ME. 

Posted on 10th March:
Great chance to win a month’s free advertising on Charity Today News for Invest in ME Charity. The charity with the most nominations wins, it’s that simple.
How to enter:
Simply like and share the post, then name Invest in ME below to nominate them.
Closes 11am on 13th March 2015.

The post is currently pinned to the Charity Today page on Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/charitytodaynews

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

* Let's Do It For ME is an awareness and fundraising campaign in support of Invest in ME Charity. We are aiming to reach a million pounds for Invest in ME Research Funds in 2015 - please click here for March 2015 press release and details - http://bitly.com/1zZWp4l

Photo Contest Ends Midnight Sunday 15th March - Reading Rocks!

easyfundraising want you to share a picture or video with them showing why 

Reading Rocks!

Deadline is Sunday 15th March midnight.

UK residents aged 18 or over.

You don't have to be an easyfundraising member to take part.

One entry per person.

There are two ways to enter :

Facebook

Share your picture or video on easyfundraising's Facebook page, either in the comments under a post about the competition or on their wall.

Twitter

Tweet your picture or video using the hashtag #ReadingRocks and remember to mention @easyuk.

They suggest lots of ways you can show how much you think Reading Rocks; a selfie of you with your favourite book, a picture of your book club, your children enjoying reading their favourite book, the kids dressed as characters from literature or even your pet with their purrfect book!

Win a £100 donation!

What’s more, once you’ve shared your photo or video, you’ll be in with a chance to WIN £100 to donate to the charity that’s close to our heart - Invest in ME!

PLUS The Book People have given easyfundraising a children’s book bundle to giveaway with an RRP of over £240! And they’ve increased donations to 3% so you raise even more.

We only have until Sunday 15th March to enter, so grab your camera and let's get snapping!

Terms and Conditions in full

GOOD LUCK & THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

*****

Let's Do It For ME is an awareness and fundraising campaign in support of Invest in ME Charity.  We are aiming to reach a million pounds for Invest in ME Research Funds in 2015 - please click here for March 2015 press release and details - http://bitly.com/1zZWp4l

Secret Easter 2015

Deadline for entry is Saturday 14th March.  This is the latest in the lovely series throughout the year based on the tradition of Secret Santa and organised by Invest in ME supporters Ali Head and Becca Hams on Facebook.  Last month was Secret Valentine, and Secret Summer is (hopefully) to look forward to again this year. Now is the time for Secret Easter 2015.  Donations are via Ali's JustGiving page and proceeds go towards the IIME Rituximab Research Fund.  Please click here for further info and how to take part and don't forget that closing date is March 14th - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1549225902024668

Let's Do It For ME is an awareness and fundraising campaign in support of Invest in ME Charity.  We are aiming to reach a million pounds for Invest in ME Research Funds in 2015 - please click here for March 2015 press release and details - http://bitly.com/1zZWp4l
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Cordon Bleu for ME!

Cordon Bleu for ME

Stuck for ideas? Well, we have plenty!

• You could make a blue drink (perhaps a non-alcoholic cocktail to highlight the tolerance problems of alcohol for someone with ME); 

• or maybe gluten or dairy-free cupcakes with blue icing to represent those who cannot eat normal cupcakes; 

• or perhaps blue pasta by colouring the water (natural food colouring, of course! No nasty E-numbers required). 

• Even a blue soup in the style of the hapless and wonderful Bridget Jones! 

The choice is yours and the choice is HUGE – endless, even! Blue omelette! Blue curry! (Or at least blue rice.) Blue cheese on a pizza! The list goes on and on .... 

The results could be used for an invitation-only themed dinner (might you want to dress as Smurfs for the occasion?); a bake sale; lovely ice lollies (well, we can hope for warm weather in May!) or biscuits around the school playground or office. 

The most important thing is awareness for the horrendous disease that is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. Remember, many of the severe sufferers cannot eat anything at all and are forced to rely on tube-feeding.

Blue is the colour most associated with ME and eating and even drinking a natural pleasure denied to so many who suffer from it. 

Please help them by doing what you can to highlight what they go through while having fun in the kitchen and remembering how much your efforts, whether Masterchef or total novice, count!

Let the (cake/soufflé/bread) money-raising begin! 

Find Cordon Bleu for ME on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/CordonBleuForME

https://www.facebook.com/CordonBleuForME

(the photos in this image were obtained through Google and are for illustration and inspirational ideas only)

Let's Do It For ME is an awareness and fundraising campaign in support of Invest in ME Charity.  We are aiming to reach £1m for Invest in ME Research Funds in 2015 - please click here for March 2015 press release and details - http://bitly.com/1zZWp4l

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Let's March on a Million!

We Can Do It For ME!

We said last month that 2015 marks the 10th year of Invest in ME charity and the 10th of their world-renowned international biomedical research conferences. Well, February was a landmark month for Let's Do It For ME. We raced past the milestone of £500,000 - yes, HALF A MILLION POUNDS - in real money!

This has allowed Invest in ME to initiate possibly the two most important research projects for ME in the UK: a gut microbiota study in the Norwich Research Park with IFR/UEA and a project leading to a clinical trial of the rituximab drug in cooperation with UCL.

March 2015 begins with a total of £502,000 donated or raised or pledged for Invest in ME Biomedical Research Funds since we launched our campaign to help the charity fulfil its plans to establish a centre of excellence for ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis).

This means we begin March at £502,000 on the way to the next target of a
magic million! How fantastic would it be to reach £1m in May 2016?  

A wonderful way to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of Invest in ME Charity.  Can we do it? With you and the help of your equally amazing friends and families .. YES WE CAN!

Kindly summed up in last Friday's edition of this unmissable weekly column: 

"The reason I’m so proud of one of the charities I support Invest In ME is because it’s run entirely by a few volunteers who themselves either suffer with the illness or are parents of children with ME. There are no salaries; every penny that’s raised goes where it should go and alongside the Lets Do It For ME team who are also voluntary, what they have achieved is nothing short of phenomenal."  Stacy Hart, Watford Observer. 

The Let's Do It For ME website is being revamped and we'll post more

March updates soon. Meanwhile, you can also find us on Facebook or
follow us on Twitter @Letsdoit4ME.  Do let us know if you have plans 

or events you'd like us to highlight or any ways you'd like to help. Our email is:
fundraising4me@gmail.com  Ways to simply donate are at the end of this blog. 

The press release issued by Invest in ME on 21st February may be read
in full on their website or in pdf. Here's an extract:

Five years ago Invest in ME created a proposal for a Centre of Excellence for translational biomedical ME research. The centre would provide clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment for patients andtraining and information for healthcare staff and work collaboratively with international researchers. 

With comparatively few resources the charity (all volunteers) and its supporters have established a foundation which could provide a real basis for future development and which will lead to better understanding and treatments for this physical illness. 

The model we have is, with enough support, able to continue and expand and augment and achieve a real breakthrough in ME research in UK and Europe and the world.

Let’s Do It for ME is a patient-driven campaign to raise awareness and vital funds for the centre of excellence. The campaign was set up in2011 and is run by ME patients who have the same objectives as the charity - high quality biomedical research resulting in a better understanding of the pathogenesis of ME as well as in the development of appropriate treatments. The campaign has supporters from all over the world and it has forced change through imaginative ideas, selfless efforts, dedication and positivity - a Can Do approach to a disease where so many have suffered unnecessarily for too long.

It is the Let's Do It for ME spirit - empowerment of patients and their families for action, a Can Do approach and positive campaigning and fundraising.

Together we are trying to improve the future for people with ME and their families and after reaching a milestone of £1/2 MILLION we are ready to reach our next target of £1 MILLION.

Our thanks go to the patients and their carers and friends and relatives who have campaigned for change and forced action to be taken and please join us in reaching our next target.

With enough support we can change things forever.

One small charity, one BIG Cause, one band of supporters – progress – change.  “Things do not have to be the way they are – we can change things.” - Dr Ian Gibson.

Let’s Do Change. Let’s Do It For ME.

Contact: info@investinme.org tel: 02380 251719 or 07759 349743

*****

A BIG THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

March 5th update - matching donation offer - http://bit.ly/1A15euJ

Ways To Donate

(add Gift Aid if UK Tax-Payer)

Paypal

paypal@investinme.org

Bank Transfer

Bank: Lloyds TSB Eastleigh

Sorting code: 30-92-94

Account number: 02252685

Bank Transfer from outside the UK

IBAN: GB63 Loyd 3092 9402 2526 85

BIC/SWIFT: LOYDGB21209

Cheque

Payable to ‘Invest in ME’ to:

Invest in ME

PO Box 561,

Eastleigh,

Hampshire,

SO50 0GQ

UK tax-payers can add Gift Aid to donations - Invest in ME Gift Aid form

JustGiving 

(worldwide - minimum £2 donations)

https://www.justgiving.com/ldifme

JustTextGiving 

(UK only)

Text: BMER99 - £1-£5 or £10 - to 70070 

You can choose to add your name and Gift Aid by text if eligible 

Text donations add to the totals on the Just Giving link above.

Other Ways to Help or Donate to Invest in ME 

http://www.investinme.org/helpus.htm

March 9th update - IIME has kindly added the above as a newsletter on their website - http://www.investinme.org/IIME-Newslet-1503-01.htm