CFIDS Association president & CEO K. Kimberly McCleary

Brian Smith, CFIDS Association of America board member

Pam Nadeau, mother of three children with CFS

From the Desk of Kim McCleary

July 2008

Two Moving Stories, Two Calls to Action

Meet Brian Smith and Pam Nadeau, two courageous individuals who have broadly shared their moving stories of how CFS has irrevocably altered their lives. At 28, Brian has lived nearly half his life with CFS. Pam’s three children all have CFS. Chances are, if you’re reading this, their stories will resonate with you.

Brian and Pam represent the community the CFIDS Association exists to serve—individuals and families who must reshape their lives to accommodate unwelcome forces of illness, disability and loss. People who must find strength and meaning in new dreams for the future, while grieving plans that may no longer be possible.

They share their stories with you because they are passionate about the Association’s work and hope to motivate others to support it. Brian and Pam write to encourage everyone whose lives have been affected by CFS to give to the Association’s landmark Campaign to Accelerate CFS Research. In November 2007 we announced a $1 million goal for this campaign, the launching pad for an expanded research program. We are closing in on that ambitious figure, having received $885,000 in gifts and pledges so far. Nearly 1,000 supporters have made donations ranging from a single dollar bill to six-figure checks. Every one of them is important to us.

The WWW Foundation, an independent foundation based in Los Angeles, has generously agreed to match donations raised online through the series of appeals that began with Brian’s story sent to CFIDSLink subscribers on June 19, and then was followed by Pam’s story sent on July 1. By giving now to the research campaign, your gift will be doubled and you will help us close the gap to the $1 million campaign goal. The greater the amount of funds available this fall, the more research projects we will be able to “green light” after proposals are peer-reviewed. To learn more about our research program, click here.

Join me in supporting this important milestone campaign and in delivering hope for a healthier future for Brian, the Nadeau family and all those who recognize something of themselves in these compelling stories. Please donate today.

With gratitude,
Kim McCleary
President & CEO
The CFIDS Association of America