With May 12th only a few days away, preparations
for International Awareness Day for Chronic Fatigue
Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) and related
illnesses
are in full swing. CFIDS patient Tom Hennessy,
president of R.E.S.C.I.N.D.,
gave birth to the idea of
Awareness Day in 1992. The May 12th date was
chosen to honor the birthday of Florence
Nightingale,
the English army nurse who was was responsible for the
founding of the International Red Cross. Nightingale
was virtually bedridden with a disease resembling CFIDS,
yet went on to inspiring accomplishments, including the
founding of the first School of Nursing.
Now Awareness Day activities take place worldwide
in
an effort to increase awareness of CFIDS and allow
patients
and organizations to educate the general public,
healthcare
professionals, government officials, and
legislative bodies.
Since the first
International CFIDS Awareness Day in 1993,
each year the numbers of Awareness Day activities
and the people involved increase.