Helen Hyland, Fundraising Manager, ME Association.
Anne Nicholls is kicking off ME Awareness month (May) in true creative style with an online auction of her unique paintings on the challenging theme of Invisible: A New Look at M.E. Each and every day, she will be auctioning her artwork to raise funds for ME Association.
A year ago, Anne kindly organised a full exhibition of art, poetry and lots and lots of facts about M.E for ME in Bromsgrove and many of the paintings were displayed there.
| “My M.E. pictures reflect the experience of so many of us. I want us to be visible. Don't you?” |
It all stemmed from a passing comment by one of Anne’s clients. She told Anne: “I just felt they weren't even looking at me, never mind listening!” Many people with M.E. say it's like that for them too.
Anne says “I get it, I really do. I just never thought it would happen to me!” Anne started painting five years ago, partly as an expression of how much pain she was in.
She says “I can't play the piano anymore; or go for long walks; or keep my house all tidy and clean; or dance; or go up town or to many social events.
Worse than that, I can't drive down to visit my daughter and grandchildren as often as we'd like. But painting, I can pick up and put down. Learning new skills – even if it's just lying in bed watching YouTube – keeps my brain alive. My M.E. pictures reflect the experience of so many of us. I want us to be visible. Don't you?”
To support Anne and her auction, please look out for the paintings that she will post to her Facebook page – Invisible Exhibition: A new look at M.E. She will aim to post an image a day and suggest a minimum guide price which will include cost of post and packaging. Anne has set up a JustGiving Page for successful bids, but you can also make a donation there to support her work.
We’re so grateful to Anne especially since this auction very nearly didn’t happen. A month ago, Anne told us that she had been peacefully painting a portrait when she experienced chest pains and breathlessness.
She recounts that the ambulance people, docs and nurses were all ‘wonderful’ as a minor heart attack was diagnosed, and angioplasty and stent followed swiftly after.
We fully expected Anne to pull out of this Auction project, and indeed encouraged her to do so, but she wouldn’t hear of it! Thank you Anne for all you are doing for M.E. and the ME Association.
The ME Association
Real People. Real Disease. Real M.E.
We are a national charity working hard to make the UK a better place for people whose lives have been devastated by an often-misunderstood neurological disease.
If you would like to support our efforts – particularly during ME Awareness Week – and help ensure we can continue to inform, support, advocate and invest in biomedical research, then please donate today.
Just click the image opposite and visit our JustGiving page for one-off donations, to establish a regular payment or to create your own fundraising event.
Or why not join the ME Association as a member and be part of our growing community? For a monthly (or annual) subscription you will also receive our exclusive ME Essential magazine.
ME Association Registered Charity Number 801279