2025 Advent Calendar: Week #4

Your roundup of the final week of doors from our #ThereForME advent calendar

Today we’re opening up the final week of doors in our 2025 Advent Calendar! To recap, each day throughout December we’ve been celebrating a range of stars who have been #ThereForME this year, from healthcare workers and advocates, to friends and family members. All of our advent calendar stars have been nominated by the members of the community.

Join us as we open our last round of doors!

December 17

Behind door number 17 is George Monbiot. George is a well-known journalist who has focused on ME and uncovering the reality of the “greatest medical scandal of the 21st Century”. George was nominated by Carole B, who expressed her gratitude for his work:

“Dear George, Your writing, your videos and your interest in the plight of ME sufferers is unsurpassed. You have all the facts coupled with understanding and humanity that makes us all feel really seen and safer with your backing. Thank you. ”

December 18

Behind door 18 is Alice, the founder of Smile for ME, a charity that sends personalised presents (“Smiles”) to people with ME and their carers. Alice was nominated by Team SalShirl, who left this message:

“Alice, Thank you for bringing so many smiles to people with M.E. 😊 Your generosity, compassion and kindness shines through your beautifully chosen gifts. Thank you for everything you bring to the M.E community through Smile for ME. X💙🩵x”

December 19

Behind door number 19 is Joan McParland MBE! Joan is the founder and coordinator of Hope 4 ME & Fibro Northern Ireland, an all-volunteer, patient-led charity for people with ME, Fibromyalgia, and Covid-induced ME in Northern Ireland. Joan was nominated by Rebecca:

“Joan, You are an inspiration to me & many ME sufferers across NI & beyond. You’ve founded an amazing charity in Hope 4 ME & Fibro NI & campaigned tirelessly for decades to raise awareness despite living with ME yourself. Lots of love, Rebecca”

December 20

Behind door number 20 is Dr Jo Greer. Jo is a friend of #ThereForME and the founder of the Red Leaf Creative Collaborative, a group of creatives that shares artistic expressions of hope for people with ME. Jo was nominated by Shirley (and everyone at The Red Leaf Creative Collaborative), who left her this message:

“Thank you Jo for all your work through The Red Tree and M.E , for the awareness and inspiration it provides, creating hope, solidarity, strength and a driving force for action “one red leaf at a time” 🍂 ”

Recently, the Red Leaf Creative Collaborative decorated a tree in Chester Cathedral’s Christmas Tree Festival, covering a Christmas tree with red leaves to raise awareness of the challenges facing people with ME.

December 21

Behind door number 21 is Dr Binita Kane! Dr Kane is the founder and clinical lead of the Long Covid Clinic, and a consultant with a special interest in ME and Long Covid. She is also a long-standing friend of the campaign, as a #ThereForME Ambassador and fierce advocate for people with ME. Dr Kane was nominated by Alexis, who thanked her for her work:

“Your advocacy and care have made the world of difference to my experience of having ME, while your compassion and skill continue to improve the lives of so many people with ME and Long Covid. Thank you for all that you do for the community.”

December 22

Behind door number 22 is Sir Ed Davey and The Lib Dems!

This year the LibDems have been key players championing the need for improved support for people with ME in parliament. You may remember that earlier this year, Tessa Munt MP sent a letter to Wes Streeting calling on the government to back the Delivery Plan for the ME with the resources it deserved. The letter was signed by all 72 Lib Dem MPs: an incredible show of support and solidarity.

Jonah Weisz, a member of our very own #ThereForME team, nominated the entire Lib Dem parliamentary party, and Ed Davey as their leader, for their amazing support throughout 2025:

“Thank you Ed Davey & the Lib Dems for being #ThereForME! We were overwhelmed, but not surprised, to see how quickly all 72 MPs signed Tessa Munt’s letter on the Delivery Plan. Thank you, Sir Ed, for encouraging a supportive culture that has enabled the party to stand so firmly with people with ME.”

We look forward to continuing our work with the Lib Dems in 2025!

December 23

Behind door number 23 is the formidable Jenny Wilson. Jenny is a long-standing advocate for people with ME and plays a pivotal role organising Dr Weir’s clinic. You may remember that we kicked off our 2025 Advent Calendar with a reflection from Jenny. Jenny was nominated by Phoebe, who left her this message:

“No one will believe the RESISTANCE; the quiet front, the charming little lady who goes nowhere, writes and speaks beautifully, belying a force of nature ten thousand hearts strong. Linking, doctoring, remembering, writing, saving hearts with ME.”

December 24

Finally, behind our very last door of our advent calendar is Rosie Barrett!

Rosie is a carer to her sister Alice and advocate for people with ME. Recently, she wrote for our blog about lessons from her experience caring for Alice. She was also featured by BBC Spotlight earlier in the year championing our #FundThePlan campaign. Rosie was nominated by Lauren:

“You are a carer for your sister, Alice, & you still find time to be an incredible advocate for her & the ME community. You have spoken on the news, you have started petitions & you have raised awareness of ME charities. Thank you ❤️”

Thank you for everything you do, Rosie!

It’s a wrap!

And that’s our advent calendar done for 2025! A huge thanks to everyone who shared nominations with us and to all of our advent calendar stars for everything they do. It’s been an absolute pleasure to celebrate all of the people out there who are doing an amazing job being #ThereForME.

We know that for many of you Christmas is a difficult time. So, today we’re sending all of our love and solidarity out to the community. We hope many of you will be able to find small ways to celebrate, even if this looks different to how it used to. And, as always, we’ll be thinking of the many people lying in dark rooms over the next few days, unable to spend the time with their loved ones. Please know you are not forgotten.

We’ll be off next week to catch our breath before getting back to it in the new year. Until then, we’ll see you in 2026.