National Awareness Events and Activities

Dr Jacob Teitelbaum to visit the UK

Monday 18th to Friday 22nd August 2008

For more information, see the news article on Dr Teitelbaum's visit here.

The PolkaDotGals Calendar Campaign

Model Bianca Embley launched the PolkaDotGals Campaign after developing Fibromyalgia following an accident whilst working as a flight attendant for Virgin Atlantic. The campaign aims to raise awareness of Fibromyalgia, specifically in the press and media, but also by supporting awareness campaigns through Fibromyalgia charities. As part of this, relationships are being developed with both the business community and Fibromyalgia specialists.

The main focus of the PolkaDotGals Campaign has been the PolkaDotGals Calendar for 2009, which has been shot by renowned London photographer, Luke Varley, and will be launched together with a fly-on-the-wall documentary. Model Danni Wells, championship 100m hurdler Sara McGreavy, America's Cup sailor, David Carr and Coventry City footballers have all been photographed with sufferers for the tasteful and artistic part-nude calendar. Amusing and yet informative quotes about Fibromyalgia are featured on each page of the calendar to add to its impact in raising awareness of the condition.

The campaign is also supported by leading Fibromyalgia specialists and Political support comes from Shadow Minister for Higher Education and Reading East MP, Rob Wilson, who is the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fibromyalgia.

The campaign is constantly looking at ways of promoting Fibromyalgia and the calendar has already received substantial media coverage, through both national and international press, television and radio. In November 2007 the campaign was invited to Parliament and took the opportunity to hold a press shoot outside the House of Parliament, when girls in yellow polkadot skirts wore t-shirts spelling out ‘FIBROMYALGIA’. In late November 2007, the campaign also held a press shoot at Coventry City Football Club’s Ricoh Arena, before a calendar shoot featuring Danni Wells and Coventry City players Michael Doyle and Elliott Ward. In January 2008, Bianca Embley was featured in a full page article on Fibromyalgia by the Daily Express. In May 2008, Zoo Magazine did a feature on Danni Wells and the campaign.

For more information see: polkadotgals.com