On May 11, 2024, a protest of the #MillionsMissing campaign will take place in Bern. It aims to draw attention to people who have disappeared from public life due to ME/CFS. Many people with Long COVID also suffer from ME/CFS and other forms of fatigue.
Due to severe symptoms and a lack of energy, those affected often suffer at home and are therefore no longer visible to the general public. Some are lucky enough to be able to leave the house on good days, but bad days usually take place alone and in isolation. As a result, their suffering is usually not noticed enough.
#Millions Missing aims to give those affected a voice and a place in society. To symbolize this, shoes are collected that stand for people who suffer from ME/CFS and have "disappeared" from society. For this purpose, the ME/CFS Switzerland association collects used shoes of people suffering from Long COVID.
In addition, deckchairs are set up with the slogan "Hellness instead of wellness". This slogan shows that those affected suffer from severe fatigue. For people with fatigue, resting does not mean wellness, but "hellness" because their illness forces them to do so.
The following day, May 12, is the "Light up the night for ME!" campaign. On this night, public buildings and sights around the world will be illuminated in the awareness color blue.
