World M.E. Day 2024
Sunday 12th May
Blue Sunday 2024
Sunday 19th May
Thought I’d do a Blue Sunday post much earlier than usual as I’ve had several emails and messages asking if Blue Sunday will be celebrated on the same day as World M.E. Day (always the 12th May), which just happens to be on a Sunday next year.
In a word, no.
Heavily influenced by feedback from the community and by the restrictions of my own illhealth, Blue Sunday will always be the Sunday after World M.E. Day.
A gap between awareness campaigns for the 12th May and Blue Sunday is beneficial and often essential for people wanting to participate in both.
The consensus is that those of us restricted by M.E. need a break between putting our all into awareness posts or campaigns that go out on the 12th. And also, feedback shows that Blue Sunday provides very welcome ‘light relief’ after what can be a very heavy and frankly demoralising day of awareness raising on World M.E. Day.
If the two are too close together, or even on the same day, most people with M.E. would need to opt for one and not the other. That will never seem right to me, as a person with M.E.
A gap of a week (or almost a week) allows more people the chance to do both if they wish to.
As ever though, if the 19th simply doesn’t work for you then please have your own Tea Party For M.E. or similar on whatever date suits you better.
A couple of gentle reminders:
Blue Sunday will always be solely for M.E. charities and non-profits. While there are so many other equally valid causes, M.E. remains underfunded and grossly misunderstood and stigmatised against.
If you think Blue Sunday is daft or rubbish, if you don’t think it’s what our cause needs, please just sit it out. Don’t go out of your way to mar one of the few moments/occasions of joy for so many others. You’re under no obligation to join in.
'M.E. myself and I' by Anna Redshaw 