May 12th - National ME/FM Awareness Day
Sun, May 11, 2008
May 12th was chosen in memory of Florence Nightingale’s birthday which was May 12th, 1820. After returning from the Crimean War ill with what was thought to be ME/CFS like symptoms, she was bedridden for almost ten years. She still managed to continue her work through writing over 200 books and articles and wrote the first book ever used in the education of nurses. Florence was a leader in advocating for the reduction of sickness and poverty.
The National ME/FM Action network successfully lobbied the Federal Government to proclaim May 12th as National Awareness day for ME/CFS & FMS
- 1994 – First request to Health Minister to proclaim May 12 as “National Awareness Day” for ME/CFS
- 1994- 1st ME/CFS Awareness Day celebrated with a March on Parliament Hill
- 1995- Request that both ME/CFS & FM be recognized on May 12th
- May12 1996 – Parliament declared May 12th National Awareness Day for both ME/CFS & FM & it continues to this day.
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