July 2018
Smiles
We sent 12 Smiles this month taking our new overall total to 608 smiles. Thank you so much for your support and for helping us create 600 smiles!
Smile For ME has been running for 6 years and it is still a small family run charity where we pride ourselves on creating smiles and brightening the days for ME sufferers and carers. We are really proud of sending 600 smiles, each one individually chosen with care, lovingly wrapped, boxed up and posted. It is very special and means a lot to run this charity and to reach 600 smiles is a huge achievement especially being fellow ME sufferers. We wouldn’t be able to do it without your support, thank you so much. 
Updates
We have lovely new thank you cards designed by Kirstie. Hand drawn mandala style with our Smile For ME logo. Thank you ‘Designs by Kirstie‘.
When possible we love sending thank you cards to try and show our appreciation for your donations. We always really appreciate your kindness in supporting us and even if we can’t always send a card we are grateful and can’t thank you enough.
Smile of the month
Something that made us smile this month was seeing reactions from people receiving their smile presents. We always love hearing from you and seeing pictures of you receiving a smile present. You say it’s made you smile and receiving lovely messages always makes us smile so thank you. You can read public comments we have received on our comments page as well as pictures on our smile page.
If you have any pictures of you opening your Smile present we would love to see them! You can email them to us at smileformecharity@gmail.com or send them to us on our social media facebook, twitter or instagram.
Shop of the month
This months shop of the month is slightly different, not recommending a shop run by an ME sufferer but instead books written by ME sufferers who are sharing their stories to raise awareness and let you know you are not alone.
- Dear Chronic Illness – Pippa Stacey
Complied by Pippa, Dear Chronic Illness features a collection of short letters collaboratively written by 16 young people, addressed to their conditions. It was important to us that the letters avoided being your typical sob stories or fuel for misguided ‘inspiration’, and instead they provide a light-hearted and humorous commentary on each of the writers’ various experiences, whilst also aiming to give insight into the challenges of navigating life whilst living with chronic ill-health.
Congratulations Pippa and all involved in publishing your book Dear Chronic Illness. It is available to buy on Amazon as an ebook and paperback. 
- A Girl Behind Dark Glasses – Jessica Taylor-Bearman
From a darkened world, bound by four walls, a young woman called Jessica tells the tale of her battle against the M.E Monster. The severest form of a neuro immune disease called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis went to war with her at just 15 years old. From beneath her dark glasses, Jessica glimpses a world far different from the one she remembers as a teenage school girl. This true story follows her path as she ends up living in hospital for years with tubes keeping her alive. This harrowing story follows the highs and lows of the disease and being hospitalised, captured through her voice activated technology diary called `Bug’ that enables her to fulfil her dream of one day becoming an author. It provides a raw, real-time honesty to the story that would be impossible to capture in hindsight.
Congratulations on publishing your book Jessica. A Girl Behind Dark Glasses is available directly through Jessica’s website as well as Amazon as an ebook and paperback
- Mad about MOBILITY – Emily Bailey
The ME Association published Emily’s article entitled ‘Mad about MOBILITY’. Congratulations Emily, who is part of the Smile For ME family, on having your writing published.
Hope reading other people’s stories reminds you that you are not alone. Sending love to you all ?
Thank you’s
A special thank you to those who have fundraised and donated money to us this month. Your kindness allows us to continue sending smile presents so we cannot thank you enough for your support.
- Thank you so much to everyone involved in the In her Name Lucie fundraiser. Over half way through your year of fundraising and you have raised an incredible amount of money! Really appreciate your kindness and generosity thank you.
- A big thank you to Brendan, Catherine, Sally, Tracy, Pauline and Steve. Your support means so much and we cannot thank you enough for helping us create smiles.