ME/CFS is a life-altering and complex multi-system disease that persists for a minimum of 6 months. People who are diagnosed usually have a very poor quality of life and can be unable to cope with even general daily activity - ie taking a shower or brushing teeth can be virtually impossible in some cases. 

The illness can fluctuate for a portion of people (moderate to mild) which means they do get some relief on odd days, but even 'mild' ME/CFS is life altering. For others it can be severe and constant. There are millions of people missing with this illness.

The cause of ME/CFS remains unknown and this is why we desperately need to help the researchers! 

Patients can be left bed-bound and house-bound for years due to physical disability and associated chronic pain. There are overlaps with other illnesses such as fibromyalgia, POTS and even multiple chronic and persistent new infections can sometimes take advantage of the person who is already unwell. 

Imagine lockdown, forever and then inject the flu plus a heavy hangover with out the partying - you might get an idea of how some days for some people with this illness can be.

For several decades, very sadly, those diagnosed have suffered in almost complete silence.

We must give people with ME/CFS a voice. This baking contest is just a light hearted way to raise awareness for an illness which is currently robbing lives. And criminally under funded.

We need your help! Baking a cake and donating some spare change will contribute to raising awareness for ME/CFS and funds for The Open Medicine Foundation to accelerate scientific research.

ME/CFS can be triggered by many forms of trauma, the most common form is a viral infection. COVID-19 is a potential trigger for many more cases of ME/CFS, which we may begin to see over the coming months - this is why we need to get ahead before we get even more behind. Post-viral illness is not something to be taken lightly - as many more will unfortunately soon discover. 

This was written last year and since then, as predicted, post infectious illness and long term viral damage and debilitation is escalating. 'Open Medicine Foundation (OMF) is leading a large-scale international collaborative study investigating the potential conversion of Post-COVID infection — more commonly known as Long COVID or Post-COVID Syndrome —  to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), a chronic, life-altering disease with no known cause, diagnostic test or FDA approved treatments available.

Up to 2.5 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from ME/CFS; the COVID-19 pandemic could at least double that number. OMF is funding the Post-COVID to ME/CFS research study to find the answers necessary to return millions back to health. 

The COVID crisis presented a unique opportunity to understand how a viral infection — in this case COVID-19 — may develop into ME/CFS in some patients. OMF's goal is to find targeted treatments for ME/CFS patients and ultimately prevent its onset in people infected with COVID-10 or other viral-infections.

Open Medicine Foundation Collaborative Network is conducting an international, multi-year study to unlock the triggering mechanisms of ME/CFS as revealed through the study of Post-COVID Syndrome patients!'

#BAKE4MECFS #ipicnic4longcovid s a fun and simple way to show those who are suffering, we hear them and we care!