Standing Order Appeal for MERGE

January 14, 2006

May be reposted/reprinted either fully or in part.

Hi,

Just in case anyone missed this appeal I want to bring it to people's attention

again on behalf of Orla, Ruth and Tom and to add my thanks to them for doing it.

MERGE are making a difference, they are energising ME (CFIDS) research, but with

more funding they can do so much more.

There are a lot of theories and speculation and hypothesis about what ME (CFIDS)

is and what is going on biologically in the illness, but only through high

quality research and with actual data will we know what is really happening.

MERGE are doing this, they are providing that data and moving things forward.

Regular funding from standing orders helps them greatly in so many ways, it

means they can plan ahead and it also helps them when they apply to bodies

providing grants, as they can show they have regular ongoing income from

supporters.

I can only echo the words below and say if we want high quality research done

into ME (CFIDS) we have to support groups such as MERGE.

After 19 years with ME (CFIDS), if there is one thing I have learnt, it is that

we cannot rely on others or governments to do it, it is only going to come from

us.

MERGE was set up by and is run by people with ME (CFIDS) and as we all know that

makes a big difference.

Don't think the amount has to be large, a few pounds from a lot of people every

month soon adds up. So please think seriously about setting up a standing order

to MERGE and making it count even more because of Orla, Ruth and Tom's generous

offer and help MERGE to make a difference for us.

Ian McIlroy

Belfast, UK

May be reposted/reprinted either fully or in part.

Standing Order Appeal for MERGE

We are making an appeal for people to set up standing orders to MERGE.

MERGE is doing very important work but needs all the support it can get in

order to expand on this work. The charity receives no funding from the

government and is relying totally on charitable donations to help them fund

their research. Getting regular income from standing orders can make it

easier for MERGE to plan for the future.

As part of our appeal we are offering to donate £5 to MERGE for every

standing order for MERGE, up to 150 standing orders, that gets set up from

February to the end of May 2006.

This means that if 1 standing order for MERGE is set up in this time,

MERGE will receive £5 from us. If 2 standing orders are set up MERGE will

receive £10 and so on. If the target of 150 standing orders is reached,

counting from the beginning of February to the end of May 2006, MERGE will

receive a donation of £750 in total from us.

Please tell MERGE that you are setting up a new Standing Order in response

to this appeal, so that they can keep a tally of the number in order to

claim the £5 per SO from us.

The standing order form can be downloaded here

http://www.meresearch.org.uk/friends/Standing%20Order%20form.pdf

or ordered from the MERGE office by ringing 01738 451234.

MERGE funds good quality biomedical research which will help us unravel

what is happening physically to people with ME. We feel, as people who have

been sick respectively for 7 years, 15 years, and 17 years, that the sort

of research that MERGE funds offers us the best hope for our futures. The

work they do will help in the search for effective treatments.

This sort of research is also the best antidote to disbelieving doctors and

family members. Getting more good quality biomedical science published, in

established medical and scientific journals, is the only thing that will

make some people accept what is already obvious to us. Just imagine a life

without comments such as 'I don't believe in it' or 'Does that really

exist?' and all the problems that come with this attitude. Biomedical

research into ME can help get rid of these problems by proving we really are

as sick as we say we are.

We are on disability ourselves so are on very limited income. But we feel

MERGE's work is so important that we are willing to make this (for us)

large donation in order to support them.

Even if you can only afford to donate a small amount each month it is still

worth doing as every little helps in the long run. Together we can make a

difference. A lot of people giving a little adds up to a lot in the end.

Best Wishes,

Orla Ní Chomhraí, Ruth Nolan and Tom Kindlon

Ways you can help publicise this appeal:

1.Pass this e-mail on to any friend/family member you think might be

interested

2. If you are on any ME/CFS e-groups, or you have a website, please post it

there.

3. If you are a member of a support group please ask the newsletter editor

to consider including this appeal in the newsletter along with the standing

order form. The standing order form can be downloaded here

http://www.meresearch.org.uk/friends/Standing%20Order%20form.pdf

Perhaps they could also include part or all of MERGE's 'Breakthrough' in

their newsletter to explain to members what MERGE does. Past issues can be

downloaded here

http://www.meresearch.org.uk/information/publications/index.html#breakthroug

h or their latest edition, which includes a 2 page spread on the Gene

Expression research, can be orderered from the MERGE office. Contact

details here http://www.meresearch.org.uk/about/contact.html

4. If you are a group leader, or attend support group meetings, please

mention this appeal at any upcoming meetings and if possible put the

standing order forms on the seats.

Other ways to help MERGE:

(a) By putting a MERGE collection box in a local shop

type of event can be here http://www.investinme.org/pastevents.htm

(d) Asking a healthy person to take part in a sponsored event such as a

marathon and raising money for MERGE in this way.

You can read about MERGE events, including events where people fundraised

for MERGE, here http://www.meresearch.org.uk/friends/recent.html

May 3, 2006

(Feel free to forward)

This is just a quick reminder about the appeal which ends at the end of the

month.

If you were considering setting up a Standing Order for MERGE, before the

end of the month would be a good time to do it as they'll get an extra £5

from us. (See below for full details)

Best of luck to those who have arranged other initiatives for MERGE e.g.

Craig Woods http://www.justgiving.com/DGME

Doggie Doddle Fun Walk in aid of MERGE

Gwyneth Hopkins http://www.justgiving.com/gwyneth

Gwyneth's Wales Walk for M.E. Awareness

Smyth http://www.justgiving.com/waterofleith

Waterof Leith Half Marathon & 10K 2006

Tom, Orla & Ruth

Standing Order Appeal for MERGE

May be reposted/reprinted either fully or in part.

Hi,

Just in case anyone missed this appeal I want to bring it to people's

attention again on behalf of Orla, Ruth and Tom and to add my thanks to them

for doing it.

MERGE are making a difference, they are energising ME (CFIDS) research, but

with more funding they can do so much more.

There are a lot of theories and speculation and hypothesis about what ME

(CFIDS) is and what is going on biologically in the illness, but only

through high quality research and with actual data will we know what is

really happening. MERGE are doing this, they are providing that data and

moving things forward.

Regular funding from standing orders helps them greatly in so many ways, it

means they can plan ahead and it also helps them when they apply to bodies

providing grants, as they can show they have regular ongoing income from

supporters.

I can only echo the words below and say if we want high quality research

done into ME (CFIDS) we have to support groups such as MERGE.

After 19 years with ME (CFIDS), if there is one thing I have learnt, it is

that we cannot rely on others or governments to do it, it is only going to

come from us.

MERGE was set up by and is run by people with ME (CFIDS) and as we all know

that makes a big difference.

Don't think the amount has to be large, a few pounds from a lot of people

every month soon adds up. So please think seriously about setting up a

standing order to MERGE and making it count even more because of Orla, Ruth

and Tom's generous offer and help MERGE to make a difference for us.