How songstresses inspired a ME/CFS jewellery brand
Inspiration for a ME/CFS fundraiser
I love songs with strong, powerful, lyrics because they speak to my soul and encourage me to stay strong. When I decided to embark on a new fundraising venture, to raise money for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ME/CFS research, I found strength from some iconic songstresses. Their words and energy inspired me while I developed a ME/CFS Signature Jewellery brand and fundraiser.
Pink | Beautiful Trauma
My perfect rock bottom and beautiful trauma was the onset of ME/CFS. It's a complex multi-system disease with many systems that can change over time. The most common symptoms are post-exertional malaise (worsening of symptoms after even minimal exertion), unfreshing sleep, overwhelming fatigue, brain fog, othostatic intolerance and pain.
When ME/CFS struck, it completely wrecked me and took me to rock bottom. I think of this as being perfect because it made me shift the limited energy I could muster, to things that actually mattered and gave me a new perspective on what's imporant in life. The phrase beautiful trauma also resonates because sometimes trauma presents opportunities that may not have eventuated without it. My ME/CFS trauma inspired me to create Coppered® ME/CFS jewellery a fundraising initiative I'm hoping will help solve ME/CFS.
Lady Gaga | Angel Down
In Lady Gaga's epic song, Angel Down, the two phrases that speak to me are “Angel down, but the people just stood around”, and “I’d rather save an angel down”.
Fortunately I've managed to recover a great deal, however I care that so many others haven't. I don't want to be someone who stands back if there is something I can do to help. I know we need more research if we are going to see ME/CFS prevented or cured, which is why I've decided to help fundraise for it. If Coppered® is successful, 100% of company profits will be donated to ME/CFS research.
Sia | Unstoppable
“I’m unstoppable today”, but that’s not to say I’m unstoppable tomorrow. Creating Coppered® has been a huge challenge for me, particularly because I've done most of the heavy lifting myself. It takes courage to put yourself in the public eye, to share your personal story and to reveal your hopes and dreams. Undertaking such a big endeavour, while also living with ME/CFS presents extra considerations. Some days I'd have heaps of energy and others not so much. Sia's unstoppable gave me a surge when I needed it most.
Adele | When We Were Young
This song is nostalgic. I love the analogy of Adele’s lyrics “you look like a movie”, because movies bring stories of possibility to life. Coppered®ME/CS Signature Jewellery is my salute to what can be acheived when a story, and possibility meet ambition.
Coppered® ME/CFS Signature Jewellery
Coppered® is an initiative I've develped to help raise money for much-needed ME/CFS research. I chose jewellery as a fundraising mechanism because I like the thought of wearing something that is not only beautiful, but unites us as a community. Coppered® is for patients, parents, family and friends.
It's important that you can trust that I'll do the right thing by our community. For this reason, I'm committing to donating 100% of company profits. To ensure that proceeds go to the right people, I'm collaborating with Open Medicine Foundation as a key recipient of any funding.
If you’re impacted by ME/CFS or longcovid, or know someone who is, please visit www.coppered.nz to learn more. And if you like the sound of this initiative, please share it with your social networks.
Sally Cox Founder, Coppered
Help FUND a cure for ME/CFS
