Angela May O'Connor (@amayoco.bsky.social)

It’s rare to see a well-known sportsperson speak openly about ME/CFS. Not because athletes are immune, but because this devastating illness often strikes in adolescence or early adulthood - before many have even reached their sporting prime. Before they become famous. Before they become household names. Before they have a platform big enough for the world to listen. It’s refreshing (and heartbreaking for obvious reasons) to see someone who made it to the elite level, even if their career was cut short, use their platform to raise awareness and advocate for this neglected illness. Thank you, @BethDobbin. People will read this BBC article and learn something. Some will feel uncomfortable, perhaps even instinctively wanting to look away, much like when reading about devastating diseases such as ALS. And frankly, they should feel uncomfortable. The reality of severe ME/CFS is horrifying. Its not 1/100000. Its 1/100. What will it take for other governments to follow Germany’s lead on ME/CFS and post-viral illness research funding? Another elite sportsperson becoming ill? A politician’s own child or family member suffering? You would think an illness affecting hundreds of thousands of Australians/English - with the most severely affected sometimes confined to dark rooms 24/7, unable to tolerate light, sound or touch, and even requiring feeding tubes - would already warrant urgent national attention. 6-7x more likely suicide/ early death common even though we have been told its not. How much more suffering is needed before this becomes a priority? @davidtuller1 @GeorgeMonbiot #MECFS #ME #PostViralIllness