Our Story
Hope 4 ME & Fibromyalgia NI was founded by Joan McParland MBE in 2011 and was originally named Newry & Mourne M.E. & Fibromyalgia Support Group.
As support quickly grew with patients and families from all across the region, the support group name was changed and officially established as a charity in 2014.
We are an all-volunteer led charity run by patients, family members, supported by medical and scientific experts: for people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.), Fibromyalgia, and Covid-induced M.E..
We are reliant solely on donations and small grants when available.
Our monthly Zoom peer-support group meetings with specialist speakers, alongside annual conferences featuring leading experts, educational events and resources for healthcare providers and students, offer crucial lifelines and hope to our community.
Our Impact
From humble beginnings, Joan’s vision has blossomed into a vibrant online community of 1000s of members and a team of dedicated volunteers. Supported by local councils and politicians, our charity spearheads efforts for specialist biomedical care in NI.
With prestigious awards and global recognition for our awareness initiatives, we’re committed to empowering patients, driving research, and campaigning for high-quality services and care.
Our Commitment To M.E. Education
We provide free, CPD-certified information packs for healthcare professionals, students, and academics. These resources include:
- A summary of the NICE Guideline for ME/CFS (NG206)
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis - Adult & Paediatric International Consensus Criteria Primer (ICP)
- Additional science-based literature on best-practice management.
The packs are designed to support early and accurate diagnosis and promote safe and effective care.
We offer M.E. and Fibromyalgia information sessions for GP surgeries and the Discover M.E. VR Experience, delivered in person or online depending on location.
Our work has led to the creation of a groundbreaking M.E. educational resource, now freely accessible to all GP surgeries in Northern Ireland.
This 1-hour M.E. Clinical Update, offering professional guidance, is hosted on the HSC GPNI website can be accessed HERE
As the sole authorised printers and distributors in Northern Ireland, our charity provides copies of the ME International Consensus Primer booklet (originally published in the Journal for Internal Medicine October 2011, Carruthers BM et al.). Free booklets for healthcare providers, students or acedemics on request, or can be downloaded from our Knowledge Bank.
Fundraising, Promoting Research and Care
Our fundraising supports vital biomedical research and all charity operations. Our community's generosity fuels our mission to improve patient care and advance medical understanding.
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