Search Results

Help a friend with ME/CFS If you know someone who lives with ME/CFS, your help and support can make an important difference to their lives. Ask them what would make things easier for them, and what support they would like. Perhaps prepare a meal, provide quiet company, help with housework or maintenance, or pay a bill. If you invite them to an event, consider how to reduce the energy required of them, provide a quiet space to rest, and be aware that they may need to cancel on the day if they are too unwell. Believe them. Learn about their experience and the illness. Remember to manage the support you give around your own needs. Possible next steps: Support your friend to join us so that they can receive our services. FILL OUT OUR MEMBERSHIP FORM Have any questions? Please reach out to us. CONTACT US Guidance for hosting and gifts:

Testimonials Feedback received from a member in our 2023 Annual Survey “I just feel amazed that the organisation exists. I know that if I have an issue related to CFS that I cannot resolve myself, there is someone I can ask who will understand, and who may know how to get me the help. I also appreciate the kind and social nature of much of the communication; this is a health condition but it affects every domain of our lives, and so the efforts to connect and facilitate care and fun and connection even beyond the healthcare domain feel especially profound. You’d only set up your organisation that way if you understood what weird and indirect impacts this illness can have on your life, so to me the whole thing communicates understanding and an approach of 'you are welcome here'. What a beautiful thing to have when you are dealing with such a complex and overwhelming illness."

The 4th International Conference on ME/CFS, Long Covid and Gulf War Illness < Back ME CFS Canterbury Registered Nurses attend RID2025 11 Nov 2025 The 4th International Conference on ME/CFS, Long Covid and Gulf War Illness Our nurses Amanda Wyatt and Wendy Dragt are currently attending #RID2025 – Hosted by Griffith University NCNED it is the 4th International Conference on ME/CFS, Long Covid and Gulf War Illness in Tweed Heads, Australia. The program features leading researchers like Professor Nancy Klimas speaking about immune and viral factors in ME/CFS, Professor Maureen Hanson on plasma proteomics, Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik on TRPM3 ion channel dysfunction, and Professor Warren Tate talking about epigenetic mechanisms. Also presenting are Dr Natalie Eaton-Fitch on ME/CFS and Long Covid epidemiology, Dr Jessica Maya on inflammatory subgroups, and Professor Pete Smith on autonomic and immune links plus many more. It’s an inspiring opportunity for our nurses to hear the latest biomedical research and clinical insights, and to connect with others working to improve care for people with ME/CFS and Long Covid. #myalgicencephalomyelitis #mecfs #LongCOVID   Previous Next

How We Help We are focused on providing services, resources and connections to improve the lives of people affected by ME/CFS and Long Covid throughout the Canterbury and West Coast regions. Our core team of six part time employees and several volunteers bring passion to this work, but unfortunately our capacity does not fully match the needs of our community, and there are waitlists and other limitations for some of our services. We apologise for this and assure you that we are exploring opportunities to increase the funding for our services. We invite you to explore the services that are available from us below. Registered Nurse Service Our Registered Nurse Service is delivered through home visits, zoom consultations, and other interactions to people of all ages. Our nurses help members with assessment for diagnosis, management of symptoms, advocacy, and more. READ MORE Group Meetings and Events We host a range of different events around our region, both online and in-person. Sometimes we invite expert speakers, other times we may have a topic for discussion. Non-m embers and whanau are also welcome to attend. READ MORE Online Community We invite people affected by ME/CFS or Long COVID throughout the South Island to join our peer support group on Facebook to share information and experiences and to support each other. You don't need to be a registered member with us to join this group. READ MORE Volunteer Outreach Services We have a growing team of wonderful volunteers who help our members with tasks such as housework, dog-walking, gardening, friendly company, and technical support. READ MORE Work and Income Advocacy Our advocates support our members to explore what financial support may be available from Work and Income. READ MORE Newsletters We release bimonthly newsletters containing updates on the activities of the organisation, information about managing and living with ME/CFS, latest research, plus more. READ MORE Library Our library of books and equipment is available to members free of charge. The catalogue can be browsed online and we can post books out to you and arrange for their return to us. READ MORE Intervention Fund We operate a small Intervention Support Fund to cover semi-urgent costs that members are unable to manage. READ MORE Advocacy We are involved with advocacy at an organisational level, both regionally and nationally. READ MORE

Some people who have been infected with COVID-19 find that they have ongoing symptoms months afterwards. This chronic illness is sometimes referred to as Long COVID, Post-Acute COVID Syndrome (PACS), or Post-COVID-19 Syndrome. The symptoms of Long COVID may include: organ damage, the core symptoms of ME/CFS, (including fatigue, post-exertional malaise, brain fog) and other concerns. Long Covid and ME/CFS are both examples of a serious and debilitating condition that can follow any type of viral infections. There are some important differences that distinguish some people with Long COVID from those with ME/CFS. However, some people who have Long COVID can also be diagnosed with post-COVID ME/CFS. To explore this topic further in-depth we suggest the article published in Frontiers in Medicine in 2023, titled 'ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature'. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1187163/full ME/CFS and Long COVID All services provided by MECFS Canterbury are available to people with Long Covid who are experiencing ME/CFS-like symptoms. Our Registered Nurse Service can partner with other health providers who are supporting people living with Long Covid. How we help PREVIOUS PAGE

Intervention Fund We operate a small semi-urgent Intervention Fund to support members in times of escalated need when they have no way to cover a critical cost themselves or from elsewhere. The support provided varies and may cover a voucher for food, one-off cleaning prior to a house inspection, an initial appointment with a counsellor, or the fee for a visit to GP or other health professional. We may not have funding to consider all requests, but please do enquire. We may be able to find some other way to cover the cost, if we cannot do so ourselves. To access this service: If you are already working with one of our Nurses or Advocates, please get in touch with them and explain what your needs are. They will explore options with you and then, if necessary, refer your situation to the Manager for consideration. Alternatively, members are invited to email the office directly to request support. CONTACT US

Meal preparation can be a difficult task for people with ME/CFS. If possible, try to have some ready-made meals in the freezer or quick meal options for those days when you are very unwell or need to conserve energy for tomorrow's activities. We have curated a list of ready-made meals options below for pickup or delivery to your home. Easy Meals Meal preparation can be a difficult task for people with ME/CFS. If possible, try to have some ready-made meals in the freezer or quick meal options for those days when you are very unwell or need to conserve energy for tomorrow's activities. Consider cooking in bulk and freezing meal-sized portions. We have curated a list of ready-made meals options below for pickup or delivery to your home, or purchase at your supermarket. Not many would be affordable on a tight budget, but perhaps you can share with your whānau, in case they are in a position to purchase some meals for you from time to time. We hope to add supermarket bought easy-prep meal options as well soon. Please note that we made our best efforts to ensure the details were accurate when added, but we may have made some mistakes. Please double check details on the suppliers website before purchasing and do let us know if you discover an error or can suggest an additon. We are grateful to the following ready-made meal suppliers who have offered discounts for our ME/CFS community. See full details and conditions further below. Several suppliers also have discounts for first time purchases or offer specials regularly. Clean Meals - 10% discount EATL8R - 10% discount Kai 2 You - 10% discount Meal Prep - 10% discount My Kitchen Table - 15% discount Also worth highlighting in the list below: Nourish Oraka, a charity based in Shirley, Christchurch, offer meals for $7 each. Meals on Wheels may be an option for you. Ask your GP to refer you. Gluten free and dairy free options are available from Clean Meals, Fit Food, Health Kicks, My Kitchen Table, MYLK Food Store, Primal Kitchen, Richards Real Kitchen. Health Kicks offer low FODMAP options. DISCLAIMER: We have no formal relationship with the business activities listed on this website page. Links to these activities are included for convenience. ME/CFS Canterbury / West Coast is not responsible for the currency or accuracy of content on such websites and the inclusion of such links does not imply endorsement by MECFS Canterbury of the linked website or its provider, products and services offered. Readers are advised to take their own appropriate due diligence steps prior to engaging with the businesses and individuals listed. Meals on Wheels https://www.cab.org.nz/community-directory/KB00033364 Hot, nutritious meals for people who have difficulty preparing their own meals. Freshly made meals with a main and a dessert for 3, 4 or 5 days per week. Meals are subsidised in Canterbury and the West Coast by Health NZ and cost $8.70 each. Clients are invoiced at the end of each month and pay Health NZ Canterbury by monthly direct credit or by automatic payment each week/fortnight. Meals on Wheels (MOW) are available by referral from a General Practice team or other Health Professional for a person that meets the following criteria: unable to prepare a hot meal without assistance due to a medical condition or disability; have no family or whānau assistance readily available; need a delivered meal to maintain good nutrition and independence. Other restrictions may apply. For availability in other regions, visit https://info.health.nz/services-support/support-services/meals-on-wheels or search the CAB website. GLUTEN FREE, LACTOSE FREE, VEGETERIAN, DIABETIC, MINCE, PUREED AND SOFT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Free delivery around noon each work day by volunteers, to Christchurch, Lincoln, Kaiapoi, Rangiora, Ashburton, Greymouth, Reefton, Hokitika, and some rural areas. Discount Offered - Nourish Oraka https://nourishoraka.com Affordable healthy meals made by a community group in Shirley, Christchurch. Fresh and frozen meals and soups. Limited range available. Meals from $7 (extra 50c if you don't intend to return the container provided), soup is free or $3. Some items are freshly cooked each Monday and Wednesday and refrigerated for pick up. Unused meals are then frozen and offered for later purchase. GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. see https://nourishoraka.com/products/dietary-options. Delivery Details: Pickup available from in store, 27 Acheson Ave, Shirley at limited times on Monday and Wednesday, or pre-ordered frozen pick-ups are available anytime at Riverlution Pantry, 46A Vogel St, Richmond. They are trialling $5 delivery on Mondays to addresses within 5km. Contact ME Respite https://merespite.org.nz to organise delivery by volunteers within greater Christchurch. Discount Offered - BBQuick https://bbquick.co.nz Real food, made properly — no shortcuts. Freshly made frozen full-sized meals, soups and desserts. Pricing starts at $14.49 per meal. Ready-to-go packs or pick-n-mix to build your own pack. VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Shipped nationwide from Dunedin with same or next day dispatch. Example shipping fee for 8 meal pack is $14.50 for South Island and $19.50 for North Island delivery. Discount Offered SuperGold Card holders are eligible for $10 off every BBQuick order over $99. Balance by Sim https://balancebysimo.co.nz Ready made meals for a healthy lifestyle by award-winning chef. Freshly made main meals. Subscription or casual pricing starts from $52.00 for minimum of 3 meals per week. GLUTEN FREE, KETO, VEGETARIAN, LOW CARB AND DIABETIC OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Delivered to your door in the Christchurch city area for $7 per delivery. Order by Sunday for Wednesday delivery. Discount Offered - Clean Meals https://cleanmeals.co.nz Eating clean doesn't need to be bland. Freshly made meals, breakfasts, and snacks. Meals are chilled not frozen. Prices start from $15.50 per meal. Subscriptions and one-off orders available. VEGETARIAN, VEGAN, GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE, NUT FREE, SHELLFISH FREE, SOY FREE, SPICY AND BENSON DETOX OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Pickup available in Christchurch. Nationwide delivery to your doorstep on Tuesday afternoon. Rural delivery at own risk. The cut-off time to change your meal selections or place an order for the following week is the previous Thursday at 6pm. Discount Offered Use code MECFS25C for 10% off your order. Crisp and Vale https://crispandvale.co.nz Chef-made heat and eat ready meals. Made fresh and stored frozen. Freshly made frozen meals, sides, soup, and dessert. Main meals start from $20.00 serving 2 to 3 people. Casual orders. GLUTEN FREE AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Pickup in Sydenham. Same day or next day delivery in Christchurch and surrounding suburbs for $12 within 15km radius, or $25 for up to 25 kms, with minimum spend of $60. Discount Offered - EATL8R https://www.eatl8r.co.nz Nutritious meals delivered to you. The Eatl8r menu changes weekly and with the seasons. Meals, soups, desserts with petite size meals starting at $13 and regular size at $15. Ingredient information provided. Delivery Details: Pickup in Waltham or delivered to Christchurch city suburbs for $6 or Canterbury for $11. Deliveries are made on Thursdays. Discount Offered Use code MECFS10 for 10% off your order. Eat https://www.eat.co.nz Home of fresh, ready to heat and eat meals delivered to your door. Freshly made meals, soups, desserts, and baking with regular sized meals (400g) starting from $13.50 and large (500g) from $15. Frozen potluck boxes and Tiddly meals are frozen. VEGETARIAN OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AND TEXTURE MODIFIDED PUREE MEALS ARE AVAILABLE that meet the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation (IDDSI) Level 4 Puree for people who have difficulty swallowing or have digestive problems. Delivery Details: Delivered nationwide from Wellington with a $35 shipping fee to the South Island. Order by 11am for delivery next day. Discount Offered - Farro https://www.farro.co.nz Dinner made deliciously easy. Build your own meal bundle and care package. Family meals, frozen pizzas, sides, soups, sauces, and desserts. Heat and Eat meals start from $14.99, 2-3 serve meals start from $19.99. Also available to purchase are meal bundles and ready-to-cook options. VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Delivered from Auckland to Christchurch and surrounding areas for $35. Order by Thursday 10am for delivery on Monday. Discount Offered - Fit Food https://www.fitfood.co.nz Healthier. Easier. Better. Fresh and frozen single serve meals, family meals, meal bases, sides, sauces, breakfast meals, and desserts. Fresh meals starting from $12.00. Frozen meals starting from $14.90. Family meals starting from $37.90. Subscription or casual orders. KETO, GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE, VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Pickup from Rangiora on Monday and Tuesday. Delivery fee within South Island is $12.50. Order by Thursday night for Tuesday delivery. Discount Offered - Freshchef.nz https://freshchef.nz Chef made. Hearty portions are sealed to lock in the freshness & flavour. Freshly made frozen meals and desserts. Meals start from $15.99 with most around $18.49. Order a subscription box or purchase one-off. GLUTEN FREE, VEGAN, VEGETARIAN AND KETO OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. Ingredient information provided. Delivery Details: Pickup in Rangiora or delivered nationwide the next day with shipping starting from $9.90. Free shipping on your first order. Discount Offered - Health Kicks https://healthkicks.nz When life happens. We have you covered. Fresh lunch and dinner meals changing each week. Plans start from $70.00 per week for 5 meals. Order meal packs by subscription or one-time purchase. MOST MEALS ARE GLUTEN AND DAIRY FREE. VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Order by Monday evening for delivery in Christchurch, Timaru and Ashburton on the following Monday. Shipping within Christchurch around $7. Do not deliver to rural addresses. Discount Offered - Healthy Kiwi Dinners https://www.healthykiwidinners.co.nz/ Roast dinners and more that bring comfort, warmth and satisfaction. Frozen and fresh meals, salads, sandwiches, soup and desserts. Fresh meals from $14 and available in three different sizes. Frozen meals are $14 each. Bulk pricing specials. Order by phone. GLUTEN FREE AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Pickup in Woolston or delivered to Christchurch area only for around $8 on minimum order of $30. Discount Offered - Just Good Food https://justgoodfood.co.nz Want natural, home-made meals without the fuss of making it? Frozen meals and desserts. Regular meals $12.00, large mains $14.00, Desserts are $10.00. Ingredient information provided. Delivery Details: Christchurch delivery only with $5 fee for minimum order of $40. Free delivery for orders over $100. Order by 2pm Tuesday for delivery Thursday. Discount Offered - Kai 2 You https://www.kai2you.co.nz Ready to heat and eat meals. Made with love. Fresh meals, frozen pies and sausage rolls, soups, scones and desserts. Regular meals from $15, petite meals $11, soup $5. No subscriptions. New menu every week. Gift vouchers are available. Ingredient information available. Delivery Details: Pickup in Papanui or delivered to greater Christchurch with $6-$8 per delivery, based on a minimum order value of $30. Discount Offered Use code MECF10 for 10% off. Supergold card holders get 14% off with code super14. MYLK Food Store https://mylkfoodstore.com From my little kitchen to yours. Handcrafted nutritious meals ready in minutes. Freshly made meals, soups, sides and desserts. Soups start from $9, main dishes from $9.90 (single 200g size). Menu changes each week. One-off orders. Gift vouchers available. GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE AND VEGATERIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Delivered from Napier to the South Island for $25. Cannot deliver to rural addresses. Order before 4pm on Tuesday for delivery following Tuesday. Discount Offered - Meal Box https://www.mealbox.nz Chef crafted meals. Save time and energy. Freshly made main meals that are flash frozen, and breakfasts. Main Meals from $15.99 each. Breakfast add ons are $9.00. Purchase one-time or on subscription. KETO, LOW CALORIE AND PROTEIN+ OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Ingredients information provided. Delivery Details: South Island shipping cost is $29.99, and North Island is $14.99. Minimum of 5 meals need to be ordered. Next day delivery. Discount Offered - Meal Prep https://mealprep.nz High-protein meals—no prep, no stress. Just heat, eat, and enjoy! Freshly made breakfast meals, lunch and dinners. Lunch and dinner from $14.90. Care packages and gift vouchers available. DAIRY FREE, VEGAN, PLANT BASED AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Delivered to the South Island within two days for $28. Discount Offered Use code MECFS10 for 10% off first order of 3 different meals above $50. Not available on subscriptions or meal plans. My Food Bag – Ready Made Meals https://www.myfoodbag.co.nz/ready-made-meals Award winning. Fresh, Ready-Made Meals. Freshly made meals, soups and dessert. 18 meals to choose from every week including homestyle favourites and healthy options. Order in bulk from 4, 6, 9 or 12 meals per week. Pricing starts from $72 for 4 meals ($18 per plate). Purchase on subscription or one-off order. Ingredient information provided. Delivery Details: New Zealand wide delivery $15. Delivered to your door on Saturday, Sunday or Monday depending on your area. Discount Offered - My Kitchen Table https://mykitchentable.nz Chef quality meals proudly made fresh and frozen in Nelson. Freshly made frozen meals, soups and meal boxes. Soups from $9.99 each, single mains from $12.99 and double from $19.99. Meal Boxes start from $89.00. Also available in selected Fresh Choice and New World supermarkets. GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE, VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Delivered from Nelson to Canterbury and West Coast $14.90 per order. Orders made by noon are normally delivered the next day. Discount Offered Use code MECFS15 for 15% off. Not available on specials. Pasta Vera https://pasta.co.nz/product-category/retail-range/ready-meals/ Locally made lasagne, filled pasta, and ready meals. Lasagne, pasta and other meals. Meals from $9.49. VEGETARIAN, VEGAN, GLUTEN FREE AND DAIRY FREE OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Available from selected supermarkets and the factory store in Wigram. Discount Offered - Primal Kitchen https://primalkitchen.co.nz All natural. Grain free. No refined sugar. Soy free. Freshly made meals, frozen meals, meal packs, subscriptions, family packs, snacks and treats. Frozen Meals start from $14.95, frozen subscriptions start from $69.95 per week, Random selection of frozen meals are $15.25. Gift Vouchers available. GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE AND KETO OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Delivered from Porirua, Wellington, to South Island for $35. Order on Friday for delivery on following Tuesday or Thursday. Discount Offered - Richards Real Kitchen https://www.richardsrealkitchen.co.nz Delicious fresh and frozen heat and eat meals in single and family size. Fresh and frozen meals, soups and desserts. Meals from $14 each for a single serve (large by weight, volume and protein), family-sized from $39. One-off orders. Gift vouchers available. GLUTEN FREE, VEGAN, DAIRY FREE AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Fewer processed additives. Delivery Details: Pickup from Wigram or delivery fee from $5 for Christchurch and surrounding areas. Order by 11am for same day delivery. Leave a chilly bin on the doorstep for delivery. Discount Offered - Strength Meals https://strengthmealsco.co.nz/ High protein, macro balanced meals formulated by nutritionist Frozen meals and chilled or canned soups. Soups $5.50 and meals $13.50. VEGETARIAN, VEGAN, GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE, LOW SUGAR OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Only available from Woolworths supermarkets. Discount Offered - Timata https://www.timata.nz Tīmata provides easy access to affordable, nutritious ready-made meals. Fresh meals and desserts purchased in bulk. Six meals for $79.98 ($13.33 each) or 8 Meals for $99.98 ($12.50 each). Subscription, with variable weekly options. Timata provides additional supports designed for the Enabled Good Lives disabled community including delivery of medications and groceries, and a platform to connect providers with members. Delivery Details: Free delivery nationwide from Invercargill, excluding rural delivery addresses. Delivered overnight or on the day selected. Discount Offered - Traiteur https://www.traiteur.co.nz/order/heat-eat Homemade happiness, delivered to you. Heat and eat meals, soups, salads, sweet treats, and butchery meat. Heat and eat meals start from $14.50, soups $10.50, salads from $7.50, weekly menu starts from $21.95. treats from $4.95. One-off orders. VEGETARIAN OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Pickup from Papanui or delivery in surrounding neighbourhood on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Discount Offered -

Join our new facebook group for people affected my ME/CFS and Long Covid living on the West Coast < Back New West Coast Peer Support Group 3 Oct 2025 Join our new facebook group for people affected my ME/CFS and Long Covid living on the West Coast In response to requests from our community on the West Coast, we have created a new Facebook group. We hope the new private group will help people living with ME/CFS and long COVID in the West Coast region to connect and support each other, as well as share information about local events and services. It will also allow us to keep you up to date with our meetings and other initiatives in your region and provides a space for people to self-organise local social catchups. Please request to join the group by visiting www.facebook.com/groups/mecfssupportgroupwestcoast Previous Next

Connect with Us Join Us Online Community Social Media Want to help? We invite you to join us as a member to access our full range of services , to receive our news in your inbox, and to support our advocacy and education work. It is free* to become a member of MECFS Canterbury. (*We do welcome donations if that is an option for you) Please complete our membership form, either: Join online or Print PDF and post Join Us: Our Events: You are warmly invited to join us at our various events. We have regular group meetings that may have an educational, support or social focus for people affected by ME/CFS. We are also involved in hosting education events for health professionals. For information about our upcoming events, including our support and education meetings, please visit our event calendar. Check our Events Our online peer support groups are private Facebook groups that proivde an online community space for people living with ME/CFS and related conditions. They are a great place to connect, share experiences and information, and organise local social catchups. The South Island online Facebook group... The West Coast online Facebook group... Many of the people in our ME/CFS community live in isolation, with financial hardship, disability, and without appropriate support from the health and welfare systems. We need community-wide support to improve the quality of life of people affected by ME/CFS. There are a variety of ways that you can help or join our team to make a difference. Check out our list of ways to help on our website: EXPLORE WAYS TO HELP Follow and connect with us on various platforms! Facebook Instagram Linked In MeetUp We invite you to check out recordings of our educational sessions on our YouTube channel. Have a question? Get in touch with us! CONTACT US

Buy from us Crash Wear We're so excited to launch our official ME/CFS Canterbury merch range! Crash Wear is a collection designed with the ME/CFS community at heart - whether you live with it, care for someone who does, or advocate for awareness. From soft, sensory-friendly loungewear to bold minimalist accessories, every piece makes a quiet but powerful statement. Whether you're pacing in a hoodie, resting with a cup of tea, or advocating from bed with a statement pillowcase, each item helps support our local work for people with ME/CFS and Long Covid right here in Canterbury and the West Coast. We receive a small amount from every sale, and 100% of that goes directly to our advocacy, support, and awareness efforts. So, when you buy something, you're helping to make a real difference. Crash Wear Made to be lived in, rested in, and seen in. Wear your story. Support your community. VISIT OUR CRASH WEAR STORE Trade Me store We sell a range of donated and fundraiser items on TradeMe, thanks to donors and volunteers. You may find something of use to you? VIEW OUR TRADEME LISTINGS ME/CFS Awareness Pins Wearing an enamel pin can be a great way to start a conversation about ME/CFS, to talk about the work of our charity, or to share some of your journey with the illness. We have three styles available to be worn at any time, but particularly around World ME Day on 12th May each year. Order from our office. Cost is $5 per pin and to post out to you. Our bank account is with Westpac 03-0802-0060232-000. Our legal name is 'ME/CFS Canterbury / West Coast Charitable Trust'. Blue Ribbon awareness Pin Forget Me Not single flower Pin Forget Me Not flower cluster Pin

Online Community We invite people affected by ME/CFS and Long COVID throughout the South Island to join our peer support group on Facebook to share information and experiences, and to support each other. We welcome both formal members of MECFS Canterbury and non-members to join the community there. You will be asked several questions prior to joining, including your commitment to adhering to our Rules for the Facebook Group – we want to provide a safe place for everyone in our regional ME/CFS community. We also host a Facebook group for those who live on the West Coast, to help facilitate local connections, information sharing, and social catchups. JOIN THE SOUTH ISLAND ONLINE COMMUNITY JOIN THE WEST COAST ONLINE COMMUNITY

Canterbury District Health Board's diagnostic and management information for ME/CFS has now been updated with input from MECFS Canterbury. This provides GPs in the region with evidence-based guidance and best practice. < Back New Guidance on ME/CFS for Canterbury GPs 6 Dec 2019 Canterbury District Health Board's diagnostic and management information for ME/CFS has now been updated with input from MECFS Canterbury. This provides GPs in the region with evidence-based guidance and best practice. MECFS Canterbury is excited to announce that the new CDHB (Canterbury District Health Board – now Te Whatu Ora Waitaha ) HealthPathway for ME/CFS is live - as of Friday, 29th November 2019! We have been working with the CDHB team over the last year on getting the content improved. 'HealthPathways' is a website that GPs log into to view best-practice advice for assessing and managing a wide range of health conditions and concerns. Each region /DHB has their own ‘copy’ of the system content, but the base content is provided by Canterbury. The old 'Chronic Fatigue Syndrome' Pathway has been completely rewritten. The new content is largely based on the information on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site, as this is the most up-to-date and informative of the government sites around the world. (Check out www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/index.html if you haven’t already.) The new ‘Chronic Fatigue’ Pathway will help GPs to assess someone more thoroughly to confirm if they have ME/CFS, idiopathic chronic fatigue or perhaps other conditions that may have different treatment options. It also guides them to support people to manage their activity carefully. We have prepared a letter about this new information for you to take to your GP, next time you visit. We want GPs to know about the new HealthPathway so that they can support you better.” Letter re new CFS HealthPathway .pdf Download PDF • 129KB Previous Next