She’s done it again! Our friend Anita in the UK has single handedly put ME on the map, fairly and squarely, once more!

As far as we’re aware, for the first time EVER, the famous arched Tyne Bridge spanning the River Tyne and linking Newcastle Upon Tyne with Gateshead, will be lit up for ME in blue for ‘Light Up the Night’.

From dusk Friday evening May 12th until dawn Saturday morning, the bridge will be lit up in honour of all those suffering with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
This year will mark the 25th Anniversary of World ME Awareness Day and what a special way to commemorate this landmark event.

To start the process, Anita initially contacted her city council. After communicating with them and receiving the much sought after confirmation, she turned her attention a little further down the river to the next bridge – one solely designed for pedestrians and cyclists.

A separate local authority needed to be contacted about lighting this particular bridge. Encouraged by Newcastle’s positive response to the request, it wasn’t long before Anita had secured a commitment for this second bridge to be lit as well.

Noteworthy here is that both councils that were approached were very positive in their exchanges. We want to join with Anita in expressing how extremely grateful we are to them for their willingness to accommodate the requests and their very kind and considerate support of ME.

Newcastle Upon Tyne is renowned for its’ engineering history. The Millennium Bridge, also referred to as the ‘Winking Eye’ or ‘Blinking Eye’ Bridge, is a unique structure built in 2001. It is the first and only tilting bridge in the world. Its grace and engineering attract people from all over the globe.

For those of us who have no idea what a tilting bridge is, there’s a link below to a short time-lapsed video clip showing this one-of-a-kind structure in operation. You’ll soon discover why its nickname is so well suited. Very unique! Take a peek!

The local Tyne and Wear ME/CFS Support Group has announced the news asking for participation from their members, and the regional ME charity of ME North East has recently placed an announcement on their Facebook page asking for volunteers to come out.

Thank you so much to both of these organizations for your enthusiasm in encouraging others to come out and support the effort.

Anita – you amaze and astound us! Your determination, ingenuity and tenacity are an example for us all. We have such admiration for you!

In our great big family of ‘Millions Missing’, Anita is one of our treasures. She has grown near and dear to us here in Canada. We’d dearly love for her to be able to see the fruits of her labours in May – and we in Canada would surely love to see the results as well!

You see, Anita will be unable to attend this wonderful gathering herself, as she has been totally bedridden with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis for the last twenty-four years.

She is barely able to move, using her voice, when able, to create emails and post messages, which makes this feat that she’s orchestrated from her bed all that more remarkable and monumental!

So, we’re making an extraordinary request for an extraordinary woman!
We’re asking if the residents living close to that area in the UK would consider going down to the bridges on that Friday night, May 12th.

Would you be so kind as to take pictures of the bridges lit up and the action that is bound to be happening down there and graciously send to them to us. Your thoughtfulness would be valued more than you could know.

We’ll make sure Anita has copies of every single precious photo and we’ll be quite thrilled to share them with our Canadian viewers here at home by posting them to our Facebook page.

Thank you Anita for sharing your many amazing talents for the benefit of the entire global ME community. You’ve brought so many successes to the community over the course of many, many years.

If you are reading this from the UK, please click on the link to the UK Parliamentary Petition below. Because of the election being called, the end date on the petition has been moved up. There are only a few days left and more than 1700 signatures are still needed.

Please sign and share with your families, friends and caregivers so they can add their name and show their support as well.

Thanks also to all those who can come alongside Anita to offer their help and assistance in planning and organizing the finer details of this occasion. It has grown significantly and any assistance you can offer to Anita to ease the load would be so appreciated.

To those wonderful souls who come out to support and participate in this movement, we want to express how touched we are by your generosity of spirit.

Finally, but certainly not last, so-o-o-o much thanks goes to those dear ones who will so kindly honour our request by sending in your photos.
Over very Best Wishes for a successful event.
Much love from Canada ♥