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ME/CFS San Diego is now a 501c3 public charity!
e-NEWSLETTER ANNOUNCEMENT: ME/CFS San Diego is trying to start a quarterly e-newsletter focused on reaching patients, caregivers, healthcare workers, researchers, legislators, and the general public with information about ME/CFS, resources, and how they can make a difference. Click here to sign up for ME/CFS San Diego's e-newsletter once it starts.
2025–2026 ME/CFS UCSD Essay Contest
Design a Future Where People with ME/CFS Can Truly Thrive
We invite all current UC San Diego undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to enter the 2025–2026 ME/CFS Essay Contest. This year’s prompt asks students to imagine a future where people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) can truly thrive, through a proposed idea, system, service, story, tool, or policy that responds to real-world challenges.
ME/CFS is a serious, disabling, multisystemic disease that painfully limits energy and functioning. Patients often face barriers in healthcare, education, and daily life. We're looking for original, thoughtful essays (500 words) that offer insight or solutions—whether small or large, local or global.
The first prize is $500, with the opportunity to be published by leading ME/CFS organizations including the Bateman Horne Center, MEAction, SolveME, and others.
UCSD Students from all fields are encouraged to apply. Deadline: December 31, 2025
Thank you to all that donated or shared our event - we still accept donations but our Donation event has ended. (look and see what you helped us accomplish!
This ME/CFS San Diego Year’s Highlights
New! Launched the 2024–2025 UCSD Graduate Student ME/CFS Essay Contest.
This first-of-its-kind contest invited graduate students to explore innovative research and advocacy related to ME/CFS.First Place: Emily Lam, “Making a Difference in the Lives of ME/CFS Patients with Nanomedicine”
Second Place: Benjamin Lam, “Breaking the Cycle of Restless Restfulness”
Continued outreach to local, state, and federal legislators, agencies, and administrative offices through emails, letters, contact forms, and volunteer-led calls
An ME/CFS San Diego representative also met in Washington, DC with staff from Senator Adam Schiff's and Representative Scott Peters' offices.
We are currently working to schedule a Zoom meeting with Senator Alex Padilla’s team to continue building federal awareness and support for ME/CFS policy.
Partnered with Bateman-Horne and Family Health Centers of San Diego to improve physical therapy access and treatment for ME/CFS patients
Advocated with legislators, agencies, and administrators for better ME/CFS policy
Acquired and distributed 1300 COVID tests through a federal agency program, along with ME/CFS-themed sanitizers and cooling neck wraps for local organizations and individuals
Collaborated with Massachusetts ME/CFS & FM Association, and volunteers nationally, to distribute crocheted ME/CFS ribbons in multiple states during May awareness month
Updated and distributed clinician-focused ME/CFS fliers featuring QR codes linking to key resources including the NIH Research Roadmap and Bateman-Horne’s Clinical Care Guide
Expanded our presence on social media, including a public subreddit and three private ones for global, U.S., and San Diego communities
Built new relationships with local companies, school districts, and UCSD departments to promote ME/CFS awareness and collaboration
Held our first day of service in connection with our last fundraiser, assembling ME/CFS-themed swag bags distributed to hundreds of healthcare workers and community groups
Hosted a series of online Zoom events featuring researchers, clinicians, and advocates. You can view recordings here: https://www.youtube.com/@mecfssd
Featured speakers included:Dr. Ruby Tam (MECFS Clinic MN)
Jaime Seltzer (MEAction Scientific Director)
Galen Warden (ME/CFS caregiver and advocate)
Dr. Benjamin Natelson (Mount Sinai)
"ME/CFS San Diego is thrilled to announce the winners of our 2025 UCSD Graduate Student ME/CFS essay contest!
Emily Lam is our first-place winner with her compelling essay on "Making a Difference in the Lives of ME/CFS Patients with Nanomedicine." Emily’s work highlights the potential of nanomedicine to revolutionize the diagnosis, treatment, and management of ME/CFS.
Benjamin Lam earned second place with his thought-provoking essay, "Breaking the Cycle of Restless Restfulness," where he advocates for increasing public awareness and enacting structural reforms to better support individuals living with ME/CFS.
We are proud of all the participants for their insightful contributions and their commitment to raising awareness for this critical cause. Thank you to everyone who took part and shared their voices with us!" for the website announcement !
ME/CFS San Diego and Massachusetts ME/CFS & FM Association are excited to share that our Millions Missing May action is making an impact — and our crocheted ME/CFS awareness ribbons are popping up across the country!
We had a great distribution on International ME/CFS Day, May 12, and the momentum is continuing all month long. So far, ribbons and volunteers are active in:
📍 Massachusetts, Washington DC, New York, Texas, California, Vermont, and Michigan
We’ve now launched a photo gallery featuring some of the beautiful ribbons and creative displays we’ve received so far (and the stories behind the photos)! Take a look here:
🔹 View the Ribbon Gallery
🔹And read the stories behind the ribbons - they are the best!
💙 Join Us This May to Raise ME/CFS Awareness! 💙
This May, ME/CFS San Diego and Massachusetts ME/CFS & FM are teaming up for Millions Missing Month—a creative, community-powered effort to shine a light on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Whether you crochet or just want to help, there are so many ways to get involved and make a difference leading up to International ME/CFS Awareness Day on May 12th.
🎗️ From making or distributing blue & white awareness ribbons to helping with packaging or sharing your story—everyone can play a part.
👉 Click here to learn how you can get involved.
Thank you for standing with the millions missing.
♥️ A Very Sincere Thank you to all donors (and people who tried to donate) to ME/CFS San Diego for San Diego Gives 2024 ♥️
PLEASE share our news!!! ME/CFS San Diego was invited, along with amazing experts, to share our lived experiences. Sharing can help connect long COVID and ME/CFS patients who are looking for answers, and help raise awareness of My Body Odyssey and ME/CFS San Diego!
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My Body Odyssey, a podcast about the rewards and challenges of exercise amidst chronic health issues, just released its newest episode about Long COVID- highlighting its similarities to many other post-viral illnesses like ME and CFS, as well as the paradoxical, often negative, impact that physical exercise has on those diagnosed with the condition.
Want to learn more about Long COVID? Click the link to hear Kaelyn Lynch’s story, as well as expert opinion from Dr. David Putrino, Director of Mt. Sinai Rehabilitation Innovation.
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