Light up the Night Global Challenge

From Bessbrook to Japan, our blue light carried hope across the world!

In 2013, our charity was recognised internationally as a leader in raising awareness and support for people living with M.E. and Fibromyalgia. That year, we were honoured to win the Global “Light Up The Night Challenge” set by the Canada-based 'May 12th Awareness organisation for International M.E. and Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.

Watch May 12th challenge with Craigmore Viaduct shown at (1.47 mins in) YouTube video: Here

The project was made possible thanks to the generosity of our local community. Funds were raised through a lively fundraising evening featuring a Dolly Parton tribute band, a prize raffle and selling homemade cakes and pastries, which brought members of the public together in support of our cause.

On the night of the awareness event, the Newry Lord Mayor joined us for the official countdown, as council buildings across Northern Ireland lit up in solidarity. The highlight of the evening was the illumination of the iconic Craigmore Viaduct in Bessbrook—its 18 arches, stretching a quarter of a mile, glowing blue against the night sky.

The powerful image of the Viaduct was captured by a local newspaper photographer and featured on the front page of the Newry Democrat. It quickly travelled far beyond our local community, shared 2,500 times from ME Research UK’s Facebook page. Among the many reactions was a heartfelt comment from an M.E. patient in Japan who wrote,

" I am grateful, even from here.”

This landmark achievement not only shone a light across Northern Ireland but also resonated worldwide, bringing hope and visibility to people with M.E. and Fibromyalgia across the globe.

A message from our Founder Joan McParland:

Living close to the viaduct and seeing it lit up was a symbol of hope for me, for two deeply personal reasons.

As a child, I loved walking in the surrounding fields in Craigmore with my grandad and his dogs while he told me stories about the fairy ring trees and how the viaduct was built, and the awe and excitement of watching a train crossing over it.
Then, during nearly a decade of severe ME, spent in a darkened room, the silence was broken up during those many, long days confined to bed when I could hear the Belfast–Dublin train crossing the viaduct, and I would visualise those happy childhood times.

The charity slogan 'Building Bridges To A Better Future' is also inspired by Craigmore Viaduct's 18 magnificent arches, as we continue to build bridges towards better recognition and education of this life-altering disease.

Dr. Vance Spence, Honorary President of ME Research U.K., pictured here at the Craigmore Viaduct during a visit to Northern Ireland, where he presented the vital research undertaken by the organisation at our 2014 annual conference in Stormont.
Dr. Spence is also Scientific Advisor to our charity.

12th May 2013