Over 350 sportspeople, including Olympians Dina Asher-Smith and Tom Daley, have signed a letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham calling for increased funding for ME research. Former sprinter Beth Dobbin, 32, who lives with severe ME, spent over 22 hours a day in bed after diagnosis. The letter highlights the stark disparity in research funding: £6.6m for ME versus £79.1m for Parkinson’s and £496.4m for dementia between 2019 and 2024.
Signatories include David Moyes, Emma Hayes, Millie Bright, Laura Muir, Eilish McColgan, and Adam Gemili. Dobbin, who spoke out despite health risks, has received global support and urges Burnham to 'level the playing field' for ME research. The disease affects over 400,000 in the UK, with no approved treatments and symptoms ranging from fatigue to cognitive impairment.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing