The ME Association and Shella Films present: A very special lunchtime reception and exclusive screening of Unrest for MPs and honoured guests | 23 October 2017

October 23, 2017


 


Tomorrow (24th October) will see a very special lunchtime reception (12.30-2.00pm) where MPs and members of the House of Lords will be able to watch an exclusive screening of Unrest at the State Rooms, Speaker’s House, in the House of Commons.

The event has been organised by The ME Association and Shella Films, Jennifer Brea's production company. The Rt Hon John Bercow MP – Speaker of the House and Patron to The ME Association – was contacted earlier in the year and very kindly agreed to host the event.

Programme

Attendees will be welcomed by the Countess of Mar (right) who will open with a presentation on behalf of Forward ME Group highlighting the financial cost of M.E. to the UK economy.

Dr Charles Shepherd, Hon Medical Adviser to The ME Association, will talk about the need for better education of health professionals, biomedical research, and explain what is required to create effective treatments and cure for M.E.

Jennifer Brea will then introduce her award-winning documentary and take part in the panel discussion afterwards with the Countess of Mar, Dr Charles Shepherd and others.

Honoured guests

The list of MPs and honoured guests is expected to feature Dr Vince Cable and Diane Abbott – although we won’t know who is able to attend until tomorrow, due to the nature of their work.

MPs were invited either by special invitation from the event organisers or through the impressive early day motion campaign sponsored by #MEAction.

We will also welcome Jessica Taylor-Bearman (left) and her husband Samuel, together with her carer, Marlena. Jessica is featured in the Unrest documentary, and is a highly regarded UK patient advocate, particularly on social media.

Other notable guests include, Dr Luis Nacal and members of the UK ME/CFS Biobank team, Dr William Weir, Dr Ian Gibson, Dr Gabrielle Murphy, and Professor Jonathan Edwards.

We are also pleased to announce that Simon Duffy from the Centre for Welfare Reform will be attending, and that representatives from all the ME/CFS charities who form part of the Forward ME Group have been invited.

We hope to provide you with photographs and comments from the event as it happens on our social media pages: Facebook and Twitter.

 

Dr Charles Shepherd, Nicola Anson, Nicki Strong, Martine Ainsworth Wells and Mary Riley, will represent the ME Association and will help ensure that MPs and members of the House of Lords are left in no doubt as to the seriousness of M.E. and our need for investment in biomedical research and the production of effective treatments.

The ME Association is especially grateful to Lucy Wilson, UK Impact Producer of Unrest, and her team who have worked incredibly hard to help make this such an important event, and to Sarah Reed, for organising the early day motion campaign with #MEAction.

 


Unrest Trailer:


Watch Unrest at selected screenings around the UK

Unrest will be available on iTunes from 31st October 2017


 

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