‘Let’s Get Snapping for M.E!’ 2013 Photo Competition Winners Announced!

The ‘Let’s Do it for ME’ team came up with the idea of the ‘Let’s Get Snapping for M.E!’ last year when we were discussing plans to sell Christmas cards for the very first time. We wanted to go that extra mile and do something a little bit special and more relevant to ME than simply buying in stock images. In the end, we decided that it would be a really good idea to run this competition whereby those, particularly within the ME community, could make a contribution by sending in photos and have winning entries printed on our cards. We realised that this would be a great opportunity for ME sufferers in particular, whose talent often remains behind closed doors, to have the chance to be acknowledged and celebrated. There couldn’t be a more powerful and positive way to increase ME awareness whilst raising vital funds towards biomedical research into the disease.

The response to the competition has been simply amazing, with 215 photos entered and a staggering 2864 votes cast in our online poll; we couldn’t have asked or wished for more. The great success of the ‘Let’s Get Snapping for M.E.’ simply wouldn’t have been possible without your support and we would like to say a very big thank to everyone who got involved. We would also like to thank those that sent in and posted up messages of support and thanks. This means a great deal to us and makes all the hard work the team, many of whom have ME themselves, have put in behind the scenes worth it.

The standard of entries was particularly high again this year. This has made it difficult for everyone to choose which to vote for, but particularly so for Invest in ME, who had the unenviable task of judging the final stage by choosing ten winning photos from the twenty most voted in our Online Vote.

Each winner, to remind those that haven’t read our earlier posts, will have their photos printed up on our 2013 Christmas cards and receive a free mixed pack of cards featuring their photo. The cards will be sold in aid of Invest in ME’s biomedical research fund. We hope to have these available to purchase around mid October.

For those shortlisted entrants that missed out and to those who didn’t make the online vote don’t be disappointed. The team, as ever, has been coming up with lots of ideas and we have something very special lined up in the run up to Christmas. We’re keeping that strictly under wraps for the time being! We may be possibly branching out into other products too, so keep an eye out for updates!

We hope our competition inspires you in the coming months to dust off your cameras ready for next year’s competition. And with the continuing success of this competition it will definitely be a regular feature in our calendar and hopefully yours too! Here’s to an even bigger and better Let’s Get Snapping for M.E! in 2014. Let’s do it for ME!

So without further ado, as this the moment you’ve all been waiting for, ‘Let’s do it for ME’ can proudly announce the ten winners of ‘Let’s Snapping for M.E! 2013 Competition. (Entries appear in the order they featured in the Online Vote.)

Congratulations and well done!

‘Let’s get Snapping for M.E!’ 2013 Christmas Cards Photo Competition

5th September update - 10 days til competition ends!
Following the phenomenal success of last year’s competition it’s back - ‘Let’s get Snapping for M.E!’ 2013 is here! This is a fantastic opportunity to get your photos printed on Let’s Do it for ME’s 2013 Christmas cards. The cards will be sold to help raise money towards Invest in ME’s Biomedical Research Fund, which includes the Rituximab Research Fund for a UK research trial of this promising drug. We know there are many budding and talented photographers out there and we want to give you a chance to shine. The competition is open to anyone of any age. It really is that inclusive!

Photos can be of anything you like but must have a Christmassy feel such as traditional snowy scenes, snowmen, Christmas decorations, or something a little more inventive. It’s entirely up to you! You can have a look at last year’s shortlisted entries for ideas. All photos must be good quality images in digital format (JPEG, PNG or TIFF). Please email your photos to fundraising4me@gmail.com by 15th September 2013 and clearly state your name and email address. Those under 16 must have the permission of their parents/guardians. And for those that have never entered a photo competition before don’t be put off entering, the majority of those who entered last year’s competition had never done anything like this previously.

The Let’s Do it for ME team will judge the first stage, with the shortlisted photos being posted on this blog and on the Competition’s Event page on 20th September. The second stage, the exciting bit, is where you get to vote for your favourite ones. You can vote either by emailing us or casting votes on the Competition Event's Page. Voting will close at midnight on 22nd September. Those with the most votes will be sent onto Invest in ME, who will then judge the final stage by choosing from these the winning photographs that will go onto be printed. We aim to print ten photos and will officially announce the winners on 27th September. We hope to have the cards ready for sale by mid-October.

Winners will not only get their photos printed up on our cards but also receive a mixed pack of our Christmas cards featuring their winning photo. So let’s get snapping - because there’s never been a better way to share your talent and do something positive for ME!

Competition Rules:

1) Entrants agree that Let’s Do it for ME and Invest in ME are allowed to print winning photos for fundraising and awareness purposes.
2) Entrants agree that any photos sent in can be used for awareness purposes by Let’s Do it for ME and Invest in ME.
3) Entrants agree that their full names can be used in association with their photos.
4) Only five photos per person are allowed to be submitted into the competition.
5) The winners will be notified by email.
6) The results of the competition will be posted on this blog as well as on our Competition’s Facebook Event page.
7) Invest in ME reserve the right to replace winning photos if, when going to print, they are unable to reproduce a high quality image from them.
8) Let’s Do it for ME and Invest in ME’s decision is final.

If you have any questions regarding the competition please email us at fundraising4me@gmail.com or leave a post on our Competition Event page.

Good luck everyone!

To help you get a head start here’s a few tips and tricks

Create your own mini home studio

• Find a naturally well lit spot in your home. A conservatory is particular good. Alternatively, a shady spot in the garden will do.
• If the natural light isn’t very good indoors put the light on in the room, even use a lamp to help light what you are photographing. Try to avoid using a flash if you can, it tends to spoil photos.
• To make a backdrop use fabric, card or material and drape it or lay it on a bed, chair or floor. In picture 1 we’ve used tinsel.

Other useful tips

• Gather together objects you want to photo, material etc. and anything you think may be useful.  This means you have everything to hand, making it easier to experiment and less time and energy consuming.
• Play around with your shorts taking them, for instance, from different angles and different perspectives.  You'll be surprised just what a difference this can make.  (see 2, 3, 4, 5)
• Make sure you don’t overtire yourself. Take rests.
• If you find holding a camera difficult use something to rest it on when taking photos.
• If taking photos outside a lightweight camping/fishing fold-out stool is very handy.
• And most importantly have fun!



* All photos that feature have been taken with an 8MP point and shoot camera.

6 Nations Cap signed by Welsh Rugby Captain Ryan Jones

6 Nations cap signed by Welsh Captain Ryan Jones 

Trudi Berridge has kindly donated a cap signed by Welsh rugby captain Ryan Jones (pictured below).  

Trudi is a member of the Make ME Crafts Team.  She said, "I wanted to do something else to raise funds as I can no longer make items to sell.  I really hope you can make a good amount for Lets do it for ME.  Thank you for your help with this". 

This is great timing as Wales have just won the RBS Rugby Six Nations Rugby Championship!

Welsh Rugby Captain Ryan Jones

Pictured below is a letter to Trudi from Lucy at The Welsh Rugby Players Association, who kindly made this happen for the charity.  Lucy wrote, "I hope it is able to raise a significant sum for the charity". 

Letter from Lucy at The Welsh Rugby Players Association

Big thanks to Trudi, Lucy and Ryan and big congratulations to the Welsh Rugby Team!

Let's make this a win-win and do them all proud by raising as much as possible for this special cap.

All proceeds from the sale will go to the Invest in ME Biomedical Research Fund. 

The cap is listed here on eBay - starting bid £9.99

Thank you for your support - Let's do it for ME!

*The Let's do it for ME campaign is run by volunteers in support of Invest in ME charity's proposal to establish a UK centre of excellence dedicated to biomedical research and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).  ME is a neurological disease that can strike anyone of any age without warning.  All funds raised go directly into the Invest in ME biomedical research fund.  Please visit our main website to find out more about myalgic encephalomyelitis, Invest in ME charity, and our fundraising campaign* 

New Total £29,000!

Posted by Invest in ME Charity ...

 

Invest in ME (IiME) has, as an objective, to make a change in how ME is perceived and treated in the media, by health departments and by healthcare professionals.

We aim to do this by concentrating our efforts on three main areas - funding for biomedical research into ME, education of healthcare professionals, the media and the public and lobbying for improvement in the treatment of people with ME and their families.

We have no membership fees and try to offer as much as possible for free, or at cost price.

Our efforts are focused on setting up a UK examination and research facility which will provide proper examinations and diagnosis for ME patients and a coordinated strategy of biomedical research into ME in order to find treatment(s) and cure(s).

Together with an ever growing number of resourceful and dedicated supporters we are all working toward the goal of making a positive contribution to progress.

The Invest in ME biomedical research fund, aimed at funding biomedical research into ME based in Norwich, Norfolk, has now reached £29,000.

We applaud the vision, dedication, positive attitudes and sheer hard work being performed by this wonderful band of supporters and the Let's Do It for ME campaign.

Extraordinary efforts from outstanding people who are not content to just stand still but wish instead to make progress.

We believe this campaign will make a difference.

Support ME Awareness - Invest in ME - Let's Do It for ME! 

Well done everyone and thank you!