May 2025
Hello and welcome to May’s newsletter. Hope you have had the best month possible.
Merryn’s Smile Day
On the 13th May we celebrated Merryn’s Smile Day by sending 40 Smiles, quadruple the number of a regular month, to Severe and Very Severe ME sufferers in Merryn Crofts’ name.
Our Merryn’s Smile Day Smiles are slightly different to our regular Smiles. We offered the option of balloons, cosy sets, cuddly toy, flowers or a plant which we then personalised as much as we could for each individual recipient. The Smiles were not wrapped as we understand opening presents with Severe ME can be difficult in many ways, however they were still packaged with love which Merryn radiated. 
Special touch
Included in each Smile was a rose quartz heart, which means love and healing, as Merryn loved rose quartz. Also items kindly donated by fellow ME sufferers, a homemade crochet heart, flower, butterfly or owl by Emma, to send love or a piece of nature from the world Severe ME sufferers are often missing from. As well a touching message by Elaine in a Fox Under The Moon card. Thank you Emma, Elaine and Fox Under The Moon for your kind donations. 
“A massive THANK YOU to Smile For ME for my ‘Merryn’s Smile Day’ box, it’s so kind and thoughtful and really means a lot. A big thank you to those who nominated me too. It has bought some much needed comfort and hope, and will continue to in the weeks ahead. Merryn was my friend, & one of the most kind, positive people I could have wished to have known. She always have kind words to say, was always rooting for you, as we were for her. Merryn should never have had to endure so much, and sadly, she died from ME days after her 21st. So on 13th May (Merryns birthday) each year, the incredible charity Smile For ME honour her memory, by sending smiles, comfort, and kindness to people with Severe or Very Severe ME.”
“A special #WorldMEDay delivery! A big thank you to Smile For ME for brightening up my loved one’s day. After a particularly hard month it means the world”
“I would like to say the biggest Thank You to Smile For ME and my no. 1 son. This has made my day!”
“Thank you so much. Jay thought the parcel contained medication he was so happy seeing the smile gift. It was so special – a jelly cat, Dubai chocolate, a rose quartz for healing and a beautiful message in a card. It was so personal and loving. You make such a difference to those who feel isolated.”
“My daughter’s gift arrived for Merryn’s Smile day. What a wonderful group of gifts. It certainly helped to raise our spirits after an exhausting and somewhat frustrating M.E. Awareness Day.My daughter loved the plant and it will join her green haven in the only room other than her bedroom she is able to enter for brief moments during the day.We loved the card and she commented how appropriate it was for her. The fox and the moon – the two things she is able to look out at when it’s dark enough. The illustrations are beautiful. The lovely words penned by Elaine – thankyou. The crochet flower is in some of her favourite colours and is so lovely. Thankful for the crystal heart and this wonderful tribute to Merryn. We are very thankful. It means such a lot. While the gift was for my daughter it brought joy to our hearts, her family.Thankyou.”
“Thank you so much for my lovely box of goodies! I absolutely love them & they brightened my day so much. Thank you also Mum for nominating me.”
“A big thank you to Smile For ME and Elaine for their kindness in sending me such lovely gifts. I’m so grateful, they are really brightening up my day. What a treat. xx”
“Thank you so much for all the amazing gifts. My daughter loved her Merryn Smile box, we can’t thank you enough. happy birthday to Merryn and thinking of all her family and friends xxx”
“So thrilled with my gifts”
“My beautiful daughter Emily was so thrilled to receive one of your boxes. Her face lit up when she opened it. Thank you so much for all that you do to support others and to making them feel that they are still important when so many others forget they even exist. xx”
“Thank you so much to Smile For ME for my Merryn’s Smile Day parcel, and to my wonderful friends for nominating me.Everything is perfect, cosy, and comforting and really put a smile on my face after an unbelievably tough few monthsI (like many of us) am thinking about Merryn and her loved ones today. She will never be forgotten.”
“Thank you for my son’s plant. He is mostly bed bound but he’s creating an oasis of green in his room and he loves it x”
“Thank you to Smile For ME for my Merryn Smile Day box and my lovely bud for nominating me. It brightened what is a very tough month. Today we think of Merryn, who the world so sadly lost to M.E, and her family.”
“Thank you Smile For ME for my lovely smile for Merryn’s Smile Day”
“Thank you so much for Amy’s gifts. So thoughtful and much appreciated. They certainly brought a smile to her face xx”
“A huge thank you for Lydia’s special smile gifts.The cards verse and personal message from Elaine made us cry, tears from being understood and cared about. The hand crocheted heart is treasured too.The balloons brought tears of joy, a huge box beautifully packaged containing the prettiest pink balloons she absolutely loves them. They make her smile everytime she looks at them.Even the box she had to have a lie in, that made her smile too.Thank you for all you do to make a difference to ME sufferers, especially severe ME sufferers”
“Good afternoon. Thank you so much for my wonderful gifts. The message in the card is just what I needed right now. I’m so very grateful.I’ve enclosed a photo.Much love and thanks to you all xxx”
ME Awareness Day
12th May is International ME Awareness Day
Smile For ME raises awareness of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis by sharing personal accounts from ME sufferers and their carers through our segment ‘Share a story’. By listening to the ME community share their experiences you can learn first hand how ME impacts the lives of those affected: smileforme.org.uk/shareastory
If you would like to share your story please get in contact with us: smileformecharity@gmail.com
Share a story
This month’s share a story is a piece titled ‘M.E. is…’ by Alice Ella.
M.E. is:
M.E. is not just being ‘tired’ or even ‘exhausted’.
It’s a biological illness, and trust me, I can tell you, it’s really real.
(I wish it wasn’t)
M.E. is:
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Using severely limited energy to fight for medical help and care
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Not being believed and being accused of faking symptoms, or being ‘lazy’
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People seeing you for a few moments doing a little better, and presuming that that’s how you are all the time
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Constantly having to monitor how much you’re doing (including very low levels of activity)
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Having to choose between things like having a shower or briefly seeing a friend that day
M.E. Is:
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Not having the strength to see your friends or even watch your favourite tv shows
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Living in pyjamas whilst your cute clothes stay in the wardrobe
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Losing your independence and having to rely on others even for small tasks
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Not knowing how far you can push your body before crashing, and how long the crashes will last
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Never being able to reliably make plans (and be able to stick to them)
M.E. Is:
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Grieving the life you thought you would have
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Not being able to predict how you’ll feel, or how much you’ll be able to manage on any day
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Having so little energy, that you struggle with basic needs like eating, drinking or washing etc
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Watching the world move on without you
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Spending whole days, weeks, or more, go by from the same spot
M.E. Is:
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Invisible yet devastating
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Living in your own world, which becomes very small
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Grieving the future you thought you would have, and all that you’ve missed out on
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Missing out on milestones, relationships, holidays, having your own family, jobs, education, birthdays, weddings, singing, dancing, living and thriving
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Disappearing whilst the world looks away
M.E. Is:
Real.
Fundraising
Blue Sunday
18th May was this year’s Blue Sunday, The Tea Party For ME. Thanks to the creator Anna, the ME community, their families, friends and allies came together and raised an incredible amount of money for ME charities. We joined in by wearing blue and enjoyed iced cookies. 
Thank you to everyone who kindly chose to support Smile For ME. An amazing £1,821.53 was raised for us so far which will enable us to continue sending Smiles to people affected by ME so we can’t thank you enough. A special thank you to Laura and Sharon, and Dee who created their own Blue Sunday fundraisers for us.
Isaac’s Blue Sunday The Concert
Not yet included in our Blue Sunday total is Isaac’s Blue Sunday The Concert. Isaac, age 15, organised and performed in an online Blue Sunday music concert to raise awareness of ME and money for Smile For ME and ME Research, inspired by his older sister who has very Severe ME and is tubefed and bedridden.
The online concert features a wide range of performances from amazing musicians and performers who have all kindly given their time. There are closed captions throughout and no flashing lights to make this event as inclusive as possible.
The concert is now available to watch on YouTube:
Donations for the concert are open until the end of May: https://bit.ly/bluesundayconcert2025 (registrations are now closed but please click ‘Details’ on the Eventbrite page if you would like to to make a donation)
Thank you Isaac for kindly choosing to support us again and for putting on a brilliant concert. Thank you to everyone who performed and supported.
‘Blood on the Clock Tower’ games night
Last month, Abi Mills as the Mayor of Lancaster, kindly fundraised for us as one of her chosen charities for the Mayoral year, by having a ‘Blood on the Clock Tower’ games night. They had an ace night and raised a great £185. Thank you to everyone involved. 
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
A big thank you to everyone who has supported us this month. From the supportive messages to the generous fundraising and donations, your kindness has meant a lot. We would not be able to do what we do without your generosity so we can’t thank you enough.
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