April 2026
Hello and welcome to April’s newsletter. Hope you have had the best month possible.
Introduction
A big thank you to those who help support us and spread the word about Smile For ME. We’ve been lucky enough to have received extra support recently so we want to take the time to introduce ourselves to those who are new.
Smile For ME is a UK charity for ME sufferers and their carers, founded in 2012. Each month we send personalised presents, which we call ‘Smiles’, to nominated Myalgic Encephalomyelitis sufferers of all ages and their carers to brighten their day and let them know someone cares.
We are a small charity run by a small team of 4. I’m Alice and then there are my parents Jacqueline and Clive and our good friend Wendy. I have suffered with ME since 2009 with my Mum becoming my carer so we know first hand how life changing and debilitating ME is, which is why we are so passionate about helping others in the same position by reminding them they are not alone.
Each month, except for May and June, we send 10 regular Smiles to people affected by ME, both sufferers and carers. Then each May we focus specifically on Severe ME sufferers with our Merryn’s Smile Day event where we send 40 Smiles to people with Severe ME in loving memory of Merryn Crofts. Each June we celebrate specifically ME carers by joining in with the Carers Week annual campaign, sending 40 Smiles to carers in partnership with Bear Hugs.
We raise awareness of ME through our segment ‘Share a story’ where we share personal accounts from ME sufferers and their carers so you can learn first hand how ME impacts the lives of those affected through their own words.
On the last day of each month we share our newsletter with a round up of our activities to keep you updated, show you what we’ve been up to and how your support makes a difference.
We love being able to bring a Smile to people affected by ME and we are so grateful for your kind support which enables us to do so. Love Team Smile – Alice, Clive, Wendy and Jacqueline
Smiles
10 Smiles were sent to both ME sufferers and carers of all ages this month. All chosen and personalised to fit each person’s likes and interests. Some of the items sent this month included blankets, cushions, socks, fluffy socks, cuddly toys, face masks, body lotion, hand and nail cream, gardening seeds, notebooks, art book, photography book, pocket hug, mug, cookies and chocolates.
Special touch
In our Smiles we include a token item donated by someone affected by ME as a special touch from our community. Included in the Smiles sent this month was a mosaic keyring or pendant by Shirley Kay Mosaics. Thank you Shirley for your kind donation. 
“Hello, I just wanted to say a massive thank you for my box Iv just received. I’m beyond grateful for everything received and all was absolutely perfect. It was a lovely surprise. It really made my day, thank you so much. It was also packaged so beautifully too. Luna decided she was going to help me open everything x”
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart the lovely gifts you sent me from smile for m.e , it made my day and week as I have had a bad week with a bug and my m.e has been bad all week , I have left you a donation on your page for 20 pounds so help it will buy a little something for someone like me to help make there day and smile , thank you so so much for your kindness , big big hugs to you all , it meant a lot to me , xxx”
“Thank you, so so much for sending a smile to Alissa. It absolutely brightened up day. She adores everything you sent. They were all Perfect gifts. She said she loves her duck, he is her emotional support duck and makes her happy. She had not heard of the charity and is already planning on things that she will make when she is well enough to send to you, so you can send them with other smile packages. It is such a wonderful thing you do. Spreading some love and positivity. Making the recipient feel seen and important.”
“Thank you so much Elliot was so surprised and was very pleased with the items especially the lovely book.”
Special Touch
A couple of years ago we started including a ‘special touch’ item from a fellow ME sufferer or carer within our Smiles. Over the months we’ve had some wonderful donated items we’ve been lucky enough to include, from touching handwritten cards of support to beautiful decorations. We want to say a big thank you to the ME community who have so kindly and generously made it possible.
We’d love to be able to keep this going so if any ME sufferers or carers are able to help us we would be very grateful. We need 10 items for our regular monthly Smiles and 40 for our special event Smiles. Please do reach out to us if you are interested in donating items: contact@smileforme.org.uk. Thank you.
A little update from us
As we shared at the beginning of our newsletter Smile For ME is a small charity run by a small team of four, all of whom are affected by ME ourselves. We absolutely love what we do, and that is not changing. Thanks to your support, we’re able to keep sending Smiles and doing what we’re so passionate about.
Some of you may have noticed that our nomination form opens and closes from time to time. This is simply because we receive a high volume of nominations, and we take great care to read every single one and respond where permission has been given. To make sure we can do this thoughtfully and within our limits, we sometimes need to pause nominations, and we’re so grateful for the patience and understanding you show us when that happens.
Please know that even when nominations are closed, we’re always working hard behind the scenes. Organising and sending Smiles never stops. When we close the form, it’s actually to make things fairer and kinder, so people don’t spend time completing a nomination when there aren’t any spaces available. When we reopen it, it’s during a time when everyone has a genuine chance of receiving a Smile within a shorter wait, and the information shared is more up to date.
We truly love sending Smiles, and we’re so thankful to everyone who thinks of us and wants to nominate. Your support allows us to keep going, and we couldn’t do this without you.
Share a story
This month’s share a story is by Kay. Thank you Kay for sharing your experience of ME.
Kay’s Story
I was diagnosed with ME in 2017. A diagnosis came after 6 long years of suffering with varying pain. One day I was able the next I was not.
My pain originated from injury which was localised and then became generalised to almost all muscles and joints. Secondary to the pain is fatigue. Feeling like I’m walking through tar after being hit by a bus.
Not only is there pain and fatigue there’s so many things with ME people don’t talk about such as the headaches, the heat sensitivity, temperature fluctuations, allodynia, brain fog, confusion, PEM and so on.
I was only 13 or 14 when everything began and I was very much disbelieved about the severity of my condition. It took a long time and it was a long journey of trying different doctors from physio, OT, rheumatology, chiropractors, pain clinics, MRI scans, x-rays, multiple medications which all failed to help the pain to finally get to a clinic which diagnosed me with classic ME. This along with hypermobiity meant a few years being investigated and being signed off work whilst we all figured out what was going on and how best to manage it.
Everyday is a fight. Not knowing how “well” I’m going to be tomorrow.
But I have my 4 year old daughter who needs me. She’s why I fight each day. I work part time. It’s really difficult at times but I have to remind myself why I do it. I’ve come a long way in the years since my diagnosis but there’s still more I need to do to find what helps me and my symptoms.
I’m thankful to charities such as this and hope that one day there will be a miracle for us all x
Fundraising
Blue Sunday
Next month, 17th May, is Blue Sunday the annual Tea Party For ME fundraiser created by Anna Redshaw
Thank you to those kindly planning on supporting Smile For ME, your generosity will help us to continue sending Smiles to those affected by ME.
Donate to Smile For ME: www.justgiving.com/page/bluesunday2026smileforme
Create your own fundraising page: www.justgiving.com/smile-for-me
Find out more: www.smileforme.org.uk/bluesunday
Swansea Half Marathon
A big thank you to Helen and Ben who are running the Swansea Half Marathon on the 7th June, for their friend Becca, in support of Smile For ME.
They have already raised a wonderful £260. If you wish to support them you can donate via their Just Giving page. www.justgiving.com/page/helen-miles-7
Good luck Helen and Ben, hope the training is going well and you enjoy the event on the day. Thank you for choosing to support us and for making a difference.
The Great Pickleball Charity Quiz Night fundraiser
Smile For ME has received an amazing £1,500 from The Great Pickleball Charity Quiz Night fundraiser. A big thank you Sheena, Goldie and Gill who organised the evening and to Jim and Alexandra who helped on the night. An incredible £3,000 was raised and split between Smile For ME and Air Ambulance during their brilliant event. We are really grateful to you for helping make a difference and for funding many Smiles, we can’t thank you enough.
Instagram Fundraiser
A special thank you to Amy who held an Instagram fundraiser for us. Thank you for your support.
Smile of the month
What’s made you smile this month? Each month we ask this question on social media and we love hearing the responses. We hope by sharing some of your smiles it can help others to find a smile too.
Thank you’s
We want to take a moment to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has ever nominated, shared their Smile, or supported us on social media. Your kindness and encouragement truly mean the world to us. We’ve also been incredibly touched by the extra support we’ve received recently, it never goes unnoticed.