‘Let’s Get Snapping for ME’s!’ 2013 Christmas Cards Photo Competition Online Vote

UPDATE: The online vote is now closed. Many thanks to everyone who voted. Photos with the most votes will be sent onto Invest in ME who will choose out of these the winning photos that will be printed on this year's Christmas cards. We'll be announcing the winners on Friday 27th. 

There was great excitement amongst the ‘Let’s do it for ME’ team as all the entries were being posted up for the first stage of judging earlier this week. We knew, following the success of last year’s competition, they were going to be good and you didn’t disappoint us! The quality and creativeness of photos has been simply amazing, with the added bonus of quite a few humorous ones too. Well over 200 photographs were entered in the end, so we certainly have had our work cut out looking through them all. This has made selecting those for the online vote whilst difficult also extremely enjoyable. We want to say a very big thank you to everyone for taking part.

But now it’s your turn to vote! You can vote in two ways, either by sending an email to fundraising4me@gmail.com stating your chosen photos. (To make it easier to identify and vote for photos we have numbered them. When emailing us, all you need to do is state the number of the photo or photos you have chosen.) Alternatively, you can go to our Facebook Competition Event’s Page and simply vote for your chosen photos by 'Liking' them. You can vote for as many photos as you want. There are 31 photos in all.  But remember, online voting closes at midnight on Sunday 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 the ones that will go on to be printed. We aim to print ten photos on our 2013 Christmas Cards and will announce the winners on 27th September, both on our blog and Competition Event’s Page. We hope to have the cards ready for sale by mid-October.  They will all be sold in aid of Invest in ME's biomedical research fund.

But that’s not all. We have plans for something very special in the run up to Christmas using some of the entries – so watch this space!

Congratulations to everyone who's made it to the online vote!

Good luck!

Free delivery on 2 or more products

• No delivery costs for all orders including at least 2 items
• Period: 10-17 September 2013
• Voucher code: AUTUMN2013

Using the voucher code before checking out will subtract delivery costs if the basket contains 2 or more products.  This offer applies to all our campaign Spreadshirt shops.  Please click on the links below to browse the wide range of products and designs. 

Let's do it for ME 

M.E. (and fibro) Awareness 

 Make ME Crafts 

The Big Sleep for ME 

ALL the seller proceeds from the above shops go direct to Invest in ME 
so let's take advantage of free delivery for ME! 

‘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.

20% off EVERYTHING at Spreadshirt til 4th Sept!

Thinking ahead to gifts for Christmas or just for awareness combined with practical use .. ?

20% of EVERYTHING from Spreadshirt til Sept. 4th - code: SUPER20

Please browse the shops below for a wide range of items and gifts.

Jan's Let's do it for ME Spreadshirt shop (inc. ldifme logo items)

Carmel's M.E. Awareness Spreadshirt shop (inc. IiME logo items)

Jon's Make ME Crafts Spreadshirt shop.

Julia's Big Sleep for ME Spreadshirt shop.

ALL the seller proceeds from the above shops go direct to Invest in ME (IiME Charity) so let's go online shopping for ME!  

Many more products than just T-shirts!

IiME/UCL Rituximab Fund £50k! Work can begin!

Invest in ME Invest in ME Statement The UK Rituximab Trial for ME August 2013 On 6th June Invest in ME announced that we were in discussions to set up a UK trial of rituximab for ME patients and since that announcement things have been progressing well. The charity had been working on trying to get such a trial started since the IIMEC7 conference. In updates published through June/July, we have stated that all that is required for the trial to proceed is the funding. As such, IiME began fundraising for this trial and invited everyone to support us in this project. Recently we arranged a specific web site which has been set up to inform on all aspects of the UK rituximab trial. This is at - www.ukrituximabtrial.org and we reiterated the current status -  We have the facilities available. We have the researchers available. We have the best expertise possible available. We have the means of fundraising for this trial available (see The MATRIX - click here) and we have a campaign to raise funds As we have agreed with our advisor, Professor Jonathan Edwards, the proposed clinical trial will undergo a rigorous peer review process. We have reached this position thanks to the vision, efforts and help from Professor Edwards, Dr Cambridge, UCL and our supporters. We have emphasised from when we announced the trial that the only element required is funding. IiME will continue organising and raising funds for this trial. The IiME BRF Rituximab fund is specifically ring-fenced in a separate account for the UK rituximab trial. The first part of the trial will be a preliminary study which will confirm the earlier work of Dr Amolak Bansal [1] on B-cells but using a different cohort of ME patients. Professor Edwards believes this is a useful study in its own right and a pre-requisite for the clinical trial. Meanwhile work is continuing on the design of a protocol which will be finalised after the trip to Bergen that IiME and Professor Edwards have arranged. Good progress is being made and IiME are committed to expedite this trial as best we can. To achieve this IiME has recently been in discussions with a charitable foundation with a view to help in funding this work. We are enormously pleased to announce that, thanks to the extraordinary generosity and support of the foundation's representative, our biomedical research fund for the UK rituximab trial has now reached £50,000. This is due to a donation from the charitable foundation which will match our existing BRF rituximab total of £25,000. The charitable foundation currently wishes to remain anonymous but they have asked us to keep them informed of the progress of plans for the trial and we are sure that the ME community will join us in thanking them for this wonderful support This now means that the first part of this project can be initiated by the UCL team without delay. We thank all those who are supporting this trial and we will continue to provide information on the status of the trial as we progress. We now resolve to increase our efforts to raise the remaining funds for the trial and ask for your continued support in this project in the knowledge that it will benefit all people with ME and their families. The fundraising for this trial is being organised and coordinated by IiME so please contact IiME directly if you or your organisation would like to assist or contribute.   If anyone would like to ask any questions about the UK rituximab trial then please use the Contact form on the rituximab web site (click here). In summary we feel that the best research team possible to undertake this trial is now able to begin the work) - taking a huge leap forward in ME research in the UK.   Thank You. References: 1 Bradley, A. S., Ford, B. and Bansal, A. S. (2013), Altered functional B cell subset populations in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared to healthy controls. Clinical & Experimental Immunology, 172: 73–80. doi: 10.1111/cei.12043http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cei.12043/abstract   WWW.UKRITUXIMABTRIAL.ORG   Support ME Awareness - Invest in ME

August 2013

Raising Money for ME With The Unremarkable Book and Other Stories

 My mother-in-law was diagnosed with ME over 15 years ago, ever since I've known her really. She's lived with it for far longer than anyone should have to and despite having to fight against everything life throws at her, she does fantastically well. To know I was writing something like this about her would make her very uncomfortable, this isn't just being humble for humbles sake, she just gets on with things no matter what they are. Having said that she has suffered for far too long, often feeling maligned, snubbed, marginalised and even vilified for her illness - and she's not the only one. 

I'm not an expert in ME, I'm not even close to be able to speak about it with any kind of authority, nor could I even pretend I know what it feels like - but I know that the general lack of treatment and support is wrong. As long as I've known my mother-in-law I've wanted to do something to help; by which I mean more than just push her in her chair and take her out occasionally. The problem is that this is no where near as regular as I'd like and does not feel like anything more than a temporary measure.

Raising money for Invest in ME is something I feel strongly about, although as a charity it's one I have only heard of recently. But since I've seen the impressive list of achievements behind them and the real work in raising awareness and more importantly its progressive stance on finding a workable treatment I knew that it was a cause I wanted to aid however possible. I don't have a lot of money to give myself, but I don't think it's just an issue of giving funds (although that's vitally important), it's also about getting people to engage with the issue, to acknowledge it for it is.

I've been an author to one degree or another for the last decade, from casual blogging to paid projects, but this is my first publication and I couldn't be more excited about it. When writing these stories over the last five years I didn't imagine I'd one day publish them, but having finally see it go on sale it all seems to fit rather well. I shan't try and pretend that the stories somehow cover ME or somehow feed into it, well not any more than anything else seems to. But what I do say is that I want to help get people to see things differently, to appreciate an aspect to an issue they might not have seen before. In some amazing act of serendipity this is also what I want for people's attitudes to ME - I don't think this is a matter of convenience or a need for "closure", but I at least think it's fitting. 

There are a couple of ways I hope people can help support IiME with this book, firstly through all profits of the sale via Amazon  or, for those who aren't able to support financially - through spreading the word and helping gain more exposure using the "pay with a tweet" button. I would of course love to see everyone contributing towards this great cause, however, I realise this isn't just about raw funding, but also changing attitudes and hope that through my work here, I might contribute something towards affecting a change of some kind - no matter how small. 

From an author's prospective I hope that you enjoy the book and take something away from it once you've finished. For more information about the book itself and how to get a copy take a look here, and if anyone wants to get in contact you can find me on Twitter and Google+ - I look forward to hearing from you!

Meet Mirry Mitchell

Mirry Mitchell

Did you see my little Etsy shop? ( www.mirrymirry.etsy.com ) it fast became the outlet to help me keep my sanity. It's tough to sit in a room all day long, every day, all alone & keep picking up your needle to lay stitch after stitch though (that's my thing, creating lots of little stitches you see) if there's no motivational reward, if those time-given completed creations are just headed for the back of an already bursting cupboard. So what d'ya do? You open an Etsy shop & see if anyone would like to 'love' your pieces & thus save them from cupboard-doom. Still not enough to keep you inspired?...you pool the money into a little pot & when you've got a tidy sum, you donate it to a much needed, greatly deserved cause....

In my case that'd be Invest In ME (IiME), 'cause they're an awesome bunch of dedicated, un-paid (yep you did read that right) hard working, charitable, caring, eager peeps. 'Cause they're fresh off the block & already working on the 'this-big-time-stuff-is-really-gonna-make-a-mahoosive-difference-to-the-long-neglected-but-we-ain't-ever-gonna-forget-you' ME sufferers. T'is true innit! You know it is, but go ahead & check it out, i'm talking s-e-r-i-o-u-s plans ahead, i'm talking DRUG trials, yeah you got it, drug trials on ME patients. When did you last hear those words uttered from a UK ME charity? We all know this could procure fabulous advances for our prospective treatment, diagnosis, care & management, not least of all attitude. Wouldn't it be something magical if attitudes from doctors, specialists, therapists, (friends & family for many too) could somersault & land the RIGHT WAY UP! This could do it. I really believe IiME could help create that turn.

& that's why my little bit of Etsy shop crafting profits are heading straight over to their big collection pot, it's maybe a bit vain donating to something holding benefits for myself, but nothing's going to change if WE don't help make it happen. There comes a point where we just have to help ourselves, & i'm game, i'm in, i want to be a part of it. i don't expect to sit back & let others run themselves ragged for me, i won't be coming forward with greedy open hands when they announce they've found a treatment if i haven't done the mere TINIEST capable thing to help earn it. So very many fabulous folks (ME'ers abundant!) are doing what they can (even the itsy bitsy-est of things are huge when we're on board together), raising money, spreading awareness & helping to support the Chieftains who are working on the Master Plan for US. I love it! i'm excited! I'm yakking on too much. I'll leave you with some pics, in a bid to counterbalance all that waffling.

Ps before i go.. spare a quid? Just £1?, even if just once in this whole year? T'is estimated some 250,000 UK folks have ME (i think it's more, that figure's decades old), if every one of them flipped a pound over to IiME, just imagine what awesome stuff they could do for us, just imagine what a difference that could mean for your tomorrows.  

S'only a quid right?

The lovely Mirry inspired The Matrix fundraising idea with her generous £1000 donation to the IiME Charity Rituximab Treatment Trial JustGiving page.

To donate £1 to the IiME rituximab treatment trial text RTUX66 to 70070 

To donate £1 to the IiME biomedical research fund text BMER99 to 70070

or click here for other ways to donate to IiME for biomedical ME research

www.mirrymirry.etsy.com 

A big thank you Mirry and all who support the small charity with a big cause!