Bringing Hope to ME & Fibro Patients

About Us

Our Story

Hope 4 ME & Fibromyalgia NI was founded by Joan McParland MBE in 2011 and officially established as a charity in 2014. We are a patient-driven organisation reliant solely on voluntary donations and grants.

We provide vital support and advocacy for people with ME, Fibromyalgia and Long Covid across Northern Ireland, Ireland, and the UK.

Our monthly Zoom support meetings, alongside annual conferences featuring leading experts, offer crucial lifelines to our community.

Our Impact

From humble beginnings, Joan’s vision has blossomed into a vibrant community of over 100 members and dedicated volunteers. Supported by local councils and politicians, our charity spearheads efforts for specialist biomedical care in NI.

With prestigious awards and global recognition for our awareness initiatives, we’re committed to empowering patients, driving research, and advocating for the best possible care.

Joan McParland, MBE

Meet Our Founder

Joan worked as a School Meals Organiser for the Southern Education and Library Board since leaving college. She became suddenly, completely bed/house bound for almost a decade, as a result of an acute viral infection in October 1999.

A degree of improvement allows her to organise and coordinate the charity events on an iPad, from her sickbed (when able) as the debilitating symptoms of M.E. continue to severely limit all her physical and cognitive abilities. Joan’s passion and vision, is driven by her own lived experience of the stigmatisation, misrepresentation and lack of education within many areas of the medical profession, whilst coping with the life altering symptoms of M.E. Joan gives credit to the enormous support from her family, who were instrumental in establishing and maintaining the support group in 2011, and the practical help they continue to provide towards the day to day running of the charity.

She was awarded an MBE in 2023 “for services to people in Northern Ireland with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, their carers and family members”.

ENHANCING LIVES TOGETHER

Our Commitment To Support, Research & Care

Community Empowerment

We thrive on volunteer and patient-led support. We offer monthly support meetings and livestream lectures to connect and empower our widespread community.

Leading Research and Advocacy

We host annual conferences with international experts and lead advocacy for specialised ME and Fibromyalgia care in Northern Ireland.

Fundraising for a Cause

Relying solely on donations and small grants, our fundraising supports vital biomedical research and charity operations. Our community's generosity fuels our mission to improve patient care and advance medical understanding.

Testimonials

What Our Members Say

This Charity diligently supports those of us who have Fibromyalgia and/or M.E. The selfless dedication and professionalism shown by its hard working team have gained us the support of the medical profession and of Stormont itself! I am privileged to be a member and highly commend its aim and HOPE that a cure for both diseases is realised.

Joy Boyd Colhoun

Belfast

Without this charity, I wouldn't be here.

Neil McCalmont

ME and Fibromyalgia, Warrenpoint

This charity gives us what it says... HOPE! We now have a voice.

Diane Corrigan

ME and Fibromyalgia

The best campaign group I've come across and I lived with the illness in England for ten years. The dedication of its members is unsurpassed.

Debbie Deboo

ME and Fibromyalgia, Moira

Stay Connected With Us

Join Our Community Today

Be part of our mission to empower and support those with ME & Fibromyalgia. Together, we can make a difference in the chronic illness community.