Should we set up in the advocacy section for everyone to contact ME Research UK and MEA and AFME (the CMRC supporters) before they make their minds up. We could provide the email and telephone numbers for everyone to contact. They might just support Crawley but if they hear from all their members and those who have fund raised for her in the past they may support patients for once in their lives?????
What do you think???
I think the CMRC are cruising fast down a highway with NO EXIT.
It will be our good fortune if they disappear or hit a cement wall but they will not change course.
In my opinion AfME will carry on especially as it has money which translates into the ability to promote itself enabling them to pick the low hanging fruit of the newly ill (and often young) people who are unawares. Sonya Chowdhury's job depends on remaining connected to the pyschosocial group without whos support there would be no paycheck.
MEA would serve the community best by separating. While both charities are in CMRC AfME is the 'official' channel and spokesorg of all things ME -- the go to org. I cannot say this enough. The MEA do not have the same influence with the outside media that are happy to continue promoting the party line. Having a charity that stands against them would mean that for balance media must have both views as patients support the charity that represents them.
As to what to do about it?
Continue to isolate the contagion. Get local media in the UK to accept well written articles on ME.
AfME will have to go down with the psychosocials.