Back to School 4ME

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.

While the illness is often associated with high achieving personality types, it can impact people from every culture, religion, economic status and education level. It has been referred to as “the last major disease we know nothing about".

This fundraiser is being passionately led by Michelle Teirney (CFO and Director of Corporate Services for Manukau Institute of Technology), who courageously has shared her personal story of CFS and the lost years of her youth due to this chronic illness on LinkedIn. You can read it here (copy & paste into your browser): https://lnkd.in/eXx4pqa.

The fundraiser involves going BACK TO SCHOOL in a cooking event hosted by Manukau Institute of Technology on the 28th November in support of ME/CFS sufferers in the Auckland region. I will join 9 other leaders and 10 young people suffering from ME/CFS (Chronic Fatique Syndrome) or other disabilities to learn some new - and much needed - culinary skills.

While many young people miss some of their important school years due to chronic illness, I would encourage everyone to follow their dreams. No matter what challenges you experience in life, it is never too late to follow your dreams.