Journal of IiMER Philanthropy and ME Philanthropy – “the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes” Philanthropists may be thought of as wealthy, individuals or organisations contributing to causes, for reasons either personal or financial or from expediency. But philanthropy comes in all flavours and different guises and not always from obvious quarters, and not always by means of donating money. The philanthropy given and displayed by supporters of Invest in ME Research is of the highest level. Many of the charity’s supporters are very ill and have little means of financially contributing – left with little financial possibilities due to the ravages of the disease on them or their family, exacerbated by punitive and immoral government policies on welfare benefits to disabled people. Yet their efforts made to support the charity and its research has changed the landscape of UK research into this disease – forcing biomedical research into the mainstream when, for years, little was done to make progress by existing establishment organisations. Jo Best and helped on by Jan Laverick and Paul Kayes – all ME patients. Instead of continually reacting to what others were doing or saying they decided to take a proactive approach. A campaign was started to support the Invest in ME Research proposal for the Centre of Excellence for ME. The difference with this campaign? To use the skills and ideas of patients who want more than anything else does to regain their health. By harnessing these ideas and enabling people to feel positive about doing something LDIFME The Let’s Do It for ME (LDIFME) campaign and our core group of supporters are helping to fashion a change in ME research and this determination and enthusiasm will influence researchers – both within the ME research area and those from outside. themselves to effect change then the campaign could be turned into something which was fun. Positive campaigning – with an objective to fund sorely needed translational biomedical research into ME and to harness patient power to influence ME research – something which had been missing from the equation. As the charity initiated a plan to develop a Centre of Excellence for ME an idea was born by www.investinme.org The Let's Do It For ME campaign is a positive and proactive campaign. The aim is to raise funds for Page 23 of 82
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