Campaign Update #11: #ThereForME across the continent

From #ThereForME HQ, to Rome and Switzerland

As we continue to push forward with our campaign, this week we can bring you updates from three different locations.

#ThereForME HQ 

This weekend the three of us will meet in person for the very first time! 

When Karen and Emma launched the campaign in July, their focus was on the first steps of launching a campaign. They had big ambitions, but I (Oonagh) don’t think they could have predicted how quickly it would take off or the impact it would have in such a short time. I was delighted to join a few weeks later and it has been brilliant to see how things have developed. It’s no surprise though—Karen and Emma have a very complimentary set of skills for a campaign.

We’re now in a position to think more strategically about the long-term direction of #ThereForME. With plenty of Christmas party food and mulled wine to fuel our discussions, we plan to work on developing a theory of change and a campaign strategy to guide our efforts in the new year. We already have a lot of food for thought but a reminder that our suggestions box is always open! We’ll be going through suggestions on Saturday while we think through our future plans.

Rome: Advancing Long Covid Research in Children

Our #ThereForME ambassador Dr. Binita Kane recently joined leading experts at the International Meeting for Long Covid in Children in Rome. This conference brought together researchers from all over the world. The discussions were focused on sharing cutting-edge research, identifying gaps in knowledge, and setting priorities for future collaborative studies. 

We were absolutely thrilled to receive this photo from Binita, featuring so many of our heroes in one place, all working toward supporting those impacted by Long Covid.

L-R: Professor Mark Faghy, Professor Resia Pretorius, Professor David Putrino, Dr Binita Kane, Dr Lael Yonker

Switzerland: Body Mapping in the News

I’m happy to share that the research project I’ve been working on at Oxford University with Professor Beth Greenhough and Dr Maaret Jokela Pansini (spotlighted on a #ThereForME blog) was recently featured in the Swiss newspaper NZZ.

The article discusses body mapping, but it also touches on my personal experience with Long Covid. One aspect I was glad to see included was the fact that losing my rowing career wasn’t the hardest part of my experience with the illness. The media often gravitates toward the dramatic story of an athlete missing the Olympics due to Long Covid, but for me, that focus misses the bigger picture. 

Losing my rowing career is something I can manage. Sport is unpredictable, and I’d lived with the possibility that I might not achieve my Olympic dreams throughout my rowing career. What was far more challenging about Long Covid was not being able to do basic, everyday tasks—things like getting out of bed in the morning, preparing meals, or spending time with family and friends. And the duration and uncertainty of it all—would I ever get better and get a normal life back? As the article quotes "I was in my mid-twenties, I should have been in the prime of my health. But I spent them waiting for my body to recover. It wasn’t just weeks or months—it was years, time I can never get back." It's the grief for a life that wasn’t lived—the things I could have done, the people I could have met, the experiences I could have had.

I’m really glad to see this angle covered in the news because I’ve always been aware of how the media can sometimes use my story in a way that downplays the severity of these illnesses. While this is usually unintentional, as Karen explained in her last post, narratives matter. We must be unflinching in addressing how severely this disease impacts lives—I don’t want my story to be reduced to just missing the Olympics. 

So, from #ThereForME HQ to Rome and Switzerland, there’s a lot afoot. Behind the scenes, we’re working on a project we’re very excited about and can’t wait to share it with you very soon. Keep your eyes peeled! Much more from us soon.