The History Of B.R.A.M.E.

Blue Ribbon for the Awareness of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
 

BRAME was launched in Great Britain on 24 April 1995. Following the success of BRAME in Britain, the campaign was taken to the World Medical Conference on M.E./CFS in Brussels, as a result, the idea was taken back to 12 countries around the world, some of whom have since initiated the BRAME campaign with enormous success. BRAME has now created a worldwide network and is in contact with 21 countries around the world.

BRAME is an integral and active participant in International M.E./CFS Awareness Day on May 12, a time when the universal symbol of the Blue Ribbon, or the BRAME enamel badge, is worn and promoted around the world.

 

As a result of the BRAME meeting in Parliament on 14 May 1998 an All Party Parliamentary Group on M.E. was set up in the UK Parliament, and the Chief Medical Officer announced in July 1998 the setting up of a Working Group on M.E./CFS. I was a patient representative on the Key Group and the report was published on 11 January 2002, my response to which can be found on the BRAME website.

BRAME is really working in stimulating conversation about M.E./CFS, offering an opportunity to educate society in general, creating a greater awareness and understanding of M.E./CFS.

 

 

The BRAME campaign has also become a means of raising funds. These funds are being used to continue to promote the aims of BRAME with excess funds being donated to research.

By wearing your Blue Ribbon or BRAME enamel badge you are supporting all those affected by M.E./CFS around the world, as well as helping to create a greater awareness and understanding of M.E./CFS. You are also participating in what has truly become a Worldwide M.E./CFS Awareness Campaign.

 

Around The World

Following the tremendous response and success the Blue Ribbons were having in Great Britain it was decided that as M.E./CFS is a universal illness therefore BRAME and the Blue Ribbons should be universal as well.
                            
BRAME has now formed a worldwide network, and at present is in contact with 21 countries around the world.
                                               
BRAME has been successfully launched in, amongst others, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Italy.
                                        
Other countries are asked to accept the aims of BRAME, so that the Blue Ribbon carries the same symbolic message all over the world.
                                        
If everyone who has M.E./CFS, and their family and friends wore Blue Ribbons, then we must have an impact on heightening awareness.

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IT’S MORE THAN
JUST BEING TIRED”

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The Aims Of BRAME

 

To create awareness and understanding that ME/CFS is a very real, and for many, a very debilitating illness.    

To publicise and create awareness of the severity and widespread nature of the illness.
          
To publicise and create awareness of the consequences of living with ME/CFS for the sufferer, carer and the whole family unit and to highlight their needs.
              
To generally offer support, understanding and friendship to those affected by ME/CFS.                                 

Through publicity reach as many sufferers and carers of ME/CFS as possible, as they often feel quite isolated by the debilitation of the ME/CFS, and the scepticism they often face.
                                               
To stimulate discussion and subsequent understanding of ME/CFS.
                              
To increase awareness of ME/CFS amongst

- members of the medical profession
- educationalists
- employers
- politicians
- society in general
                                      

To promote the international links with individuals, groups, medical professionals and researchers in ME/CFS or ME/CFS linked illnesses.
                              

To support, help and develop the BRAME campaign around the world using the Blue Ribbon and BRAME enamel badge as universal symbols to create a greater awareness and understanding of ME/CFS.