By Helen Hyland, Fundraising Manager, ME Association.
If you go in for your Sub today, you’re in for a big surprise… If you go in for your Sub today, you might not believe your eyes…
That’s because kind-hearted staff at Subway fast food restaurants in Leicester, Nottinghamshire, Peterborough and Scunthorpe – 36 stores in total – are going blue; to help raise money for the ME Association.
As part of ME Awareness Week (May 7th – 13th), some will be dressing down in blue t-shirts and jeans, others will be going the whole hog with blue face paint and even dressing as cartoon characters the Smurfs.
There are guessing competitions too – and one former staff member, Tania Lockhart, has organised a 2-hour Impact Fitathon.
This is the third year that Subway in East Midlands are supporting ME Awareness Week by Going BLUE for ME – at the instigation of owners Jit and Joy Patel.
Hidden Illness
Joy was diagnosed with ME – which causes extreme exhaustion that does not go away with rest or sleep – 20 years ago. Joy, 47, comments:
“M.E. is a hidden illness. At times, I’ve been housebound and even bedbound – which no-one except my closest family sees.
“It’s not tiredness! For some of us, it’s literally not being able to lift your head off a pillow. And there are many other symptoms as well.
“As an M.E. sufferer, I constantly battle against being misinterpreted or misjudged by people who do not understand – even close family and friends.
“This is totally understandable because of fluctuations in the illness; one minute I appear fine and then in the next breath I can feel the energy sinking away. This makes me want to go into hibernation and the darkness of the bedroom becomes my best friend.
“I am so fortunate to be surrounded by family and friends – who are there for me physically and emotionally – unlike for many of my fellow sufferers.
“By supporting the ME Association’s Go Blue campaign, we can lift the veil on this horrible illness and support patients by refusing to stay in the shadows.
“Our staff are brilliant. This is the third year they have supported our fundraising for Go Blue and they really get behind it – we really can’t thank them enough!”
The ME Association
We help people with M.E. and their families.
If you would like show your support for our vital work then please donate whatever you can afford to our ME Awareness Week Just Giving campaign – Go BLUE for ME.
Help us continue to make the UK a better place for people with M.E.
Thank you.