After 21 fulfilling years at the ME Association, and following careful consideration, I have decided that it is time to step down as trustee and chairman.
It has been a true privilege and honour to be part of such a wonderful charity, and to champion change in the world of ME/CFS.
It has not been an easy decision, but on reflection, it feels like an appropriate time to bid farewell. I have lived with the debilitating effects of ME for many years and need to now focus more closely on my own health.
As chairman it has been my utmost priority to improve the quality of life for people affected by ME/CFS. I have been actively involved in growing the charity from its near collapse in 2004, taking it to new heights.
During this time, the ME Association has grown from strength to strength thanks to the undivided commitment of our exceptional trustees, staff, members, and the wider ME/CFS community. Together we have made significant and meaningful impact on our community, and there have been many key milestones along the way. From living ‘hand to mouth' each month, we now have a solid capital base which is now being spent, as you will see, from the new research work and outreach programmes, more of which we will be announcing soon in ME Essential and our digital platforms.
I have many fond memories of my time at the ME Association and have had the pleasure of working with people with a shared passion and ethos to change attitudes, raise awareness, spearhead medical research, and ultimately improve lives. Once again, I would like to thank everyone for your support and the opportunity of my tenure with the ME Association; it has been a positive experience.
I will continue to closely support the ME community, as I have always done. The ME Association will continue to thrive and drive positive change, and I am confident of its bright future.
Neil Riley,
Chairman of Trustees
The ME Association
The trustees would like to thank Neil for his undivided commitment during his time as trustee and chairman. Neil has been involved with the charity on a daily basis for more than 20 years, bringing invaluable experience, skills and knowledge. He has been instrumental to the successful operations of the ME Association, putting the interests of the charity first.
We understand the Chairman’s reasons behind his resignation and support his decision.
To ensure a smooth transition, Vice Chairman David Allen, will be stepping in as interim Chairman. As indicated at the AGM in December 2024, we remain committed to undertaking a governance and, in light of the current size and number of employees, an organisational review, to ensure that we have the right resources to achieve our goals. The board will continue to manage this process and we will provide further updates regarding next steps in due course.
The board would like to wish Neil well in the future, and once again express our sincere thanks for his dedicated service of 21 years to the ME Association.
The Board of Trustees at the ME Association