ME Auckland

Courageous Deeds - Back to School 4 ME

$1,720 raised

I'm challenging 10 leaders to go BACK TO SCHOOL to raise awareness for sufferers of ME/CFS who have missed out on their schooling.

Auckland

Courageous Deeds is a fundraiser challenging ten leaders with a passion for diversity and making a difference to head BACK TO SCHOOL for a day to raise awareness for young adults and teens with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) who have missed out on their youth and schooling due to this crippling and misunderstood illness.

Imagine this.

Remember a nasty virus that you've once had. The tiredness, headaches, nausea, weakness...

OK, now multiply that by five, and imagine the virus never went away. This is how 20,000 New Zealanders with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) live every day.

What is ME/CFS?

ME/CFS is a chronic illness causing incapacitating fatigue. It makes simple tasks (even taking a shower) make sufferers feel like they've run a marathon with a sack of rocks tied to their back!

It's often triggered by a viral infection (though there are a number of other causes). There is no known cure.

ME/CFS can strike anyone and deprives everyday New Zealanders of the things that are important to them - the ability to raise a family, study, relationships, travel, pursue a career, and be independent. The illness affects all facets of their lives. Research in New Zealand shows that ME/CFS affects people's lives as severely as Parkinson's disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Auckland has the largest number of ME/CFS sufferers of any city in New Zealand - estimated at over 6,000 in total.

Event creator, Michelle Teirney is Chief Financial Officer and Director Corporate Services for a large government organisation in Auckland, New Zealand and has been recovered from ME/CFS for over 20 years. The story of her missing youth was published on Linkedin in July 2016. You can read it here: https://lnkd.in/eXx4pqa

Michelle believes that leaders have an important responsibility to create a business world where difference of any kind: disability, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation is embraced as a normal and valuable part of society. She says “We owe anyone with a chronic illness the opportunity to participate in society for as long and fully as they can. No-one should experience social isolation”.

While she missed some of her important school years, she would like to encourage everyone to follow your dreams. “No matter what challenges you experience in life, it is never too late to follow your dreams and go back to school or get an education”.

With thanks to Manukau Institute of Technology, Faculty of Consumer Services for hosting the event.

Acknowledgement and thanks to Fulumoa Curtis Olomautu (a 2nd year Bachelor of Visual Arts student at Manukau Institute of Technology) for the amazing Courageous Deeds logo design.

Funds raised will go to support ME/CFS sufferers in the Auckland region.

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Participant leaderboard

Latest donations

Laureen
Laureen on 02 Dec 2016    Back to School 4ME
Well done Michelle, your an inspiration
Private
David
David on 29 Nov 2016    Back to School 4ME
$100
Rachel
Rachel on 27 Nov 2016    Back to School 4ME
Thank you for speaking out on CFS. All the best for the event.
$100
MrsK
MrsK on 27 Nov 2016    Back to School 4ME
I suffered from glandular fever at 14 and then suffered from ME from 16-19 years old. I fully support this event. Thank you Michelle.
$30
Michelle Hubble
Michelle Hubble on 24 Nov 2016    Back to School 4ME
Great cause Michelle. All the best with the fundraiser on Monday. Kind regards, Michelle.
Private

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This campaign started on 11 Sep 2016 and ended on 23 Dec 2016.
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