FMA UK launches a Postcard Campaign to raise awareness of Fibromyalgia. Please ACT!

International Awareness Day 12th May 2008 

Update: Many thanks to all those who have participated in raising awareness with sending postcards to their MP and MEP. Its been a brilliant effort, and lets hope the politicians now raise the subject of fibromyalgia and help to improve the situation of those living with and caring for those with the condition. We have now run out of all the post cards. But please remember to send them to your representative.

You are all invited to the coffee morning on International Awareness Day on 12th May 2008.  This will take place in the Atlee Suite in Portcullis House from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

The purpose of this event is to get as many MPs as possible to attend and we are following up on a suggestion made by Rob Wilson MP (chair of APPG) at the last APPG on Fibromyalgia meeting.  He suggested a postcard campaign.  This works best if sent by someone within the constituency and the MP gets several requests, as this brings home how many people in the constituency need the problems of having fibromyalgia addressing. 

To make this eye-catching and easy to do, we have designed postcards for each person to send to their MP with the details of the coffee morning printed and the front listing the main symptoms as on our flyers and posters.  This is in yellow with black text to match our ribbon colours. 

We have distributed pre-printed postcards to our support groups and also in FaMily magazine.  It would help the campaign if even more people can send out the postcards.

We can send postcards to you from the office if you e-mail us with your details at Head Office or write to us at FMA UK, PO Box 206, Stourbridge, West Midlands. DY9 8YL.  It will help save charity funds if you can send a stamped addressed envelope. 

There is a box to tick on the first postcard if people are able to attend the coffee morning and meet their MP at the event.  They are much more likely to attend if you can manage to do this. 

Please let the office know if you planning to attend with details of your name and address.  We have to supply these details so you can be sent out an official invitation from the Houses of Parliament, which you need to bring with you in order to get in.

Alternatively, you can just ask your MP to attend.  See below for details of how to contact your MP. 

European Awareness 7^th May European Parliament Brussels  

The second postcard is for your MEP.  The European Network of Fibromyalgia Associations has been working with Pfizer to put on a round table discussion about the way fibromyalgia is treated throughout Europe.  It is important that we are seen as working together on this to add more weight to the campaign to get better and consistent treatment throughout the EU. 

Please take the time (see below) to find out the address of your MEP and send the second postcard.   Please follow this link http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/ to find a list of all MP's, MSP's, MEP's and councillors on a per post code basis.  The website initially gives you details of your MP and by the “by letter” heading the address to write to them at: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.  You can follow the link to Other information on the page to get details of the MEP’s in your area and where to write to them.

We need as many postcards to be sent from as many different people as possible. 

We have had specific sponsorship for the printing of these postcards and hope we can make good use of this opportunity to get as many MPs and MEPs as possible aware of fibromyalgia and its consequences. 

Please don’t assume someone else will do this – we all need to do it!! 

Thank you