CFIDS Association, Inc.

From Adam Lesser
Chairman of the Board of Directors, 2010

I guess it all started in the newsroom. Sitting at the superdesk, NBC’s giant newsroom that coordinates news coverage for all of the NBC News outlets—from MSNBC to the Today Show—I felt the first pangs of what I thought was food poisoning. A year later, fifteen pounds lighter and in shock from the repeated nights of non-restorative sleep and muscle exhaustion, I resigned from my position as assignment editor. I was too sick to work.

In the years that followed, I searched for answers. Went from doctor to doctor. From acupuncturist to nutritionist to naturopath. With my frustrations growing, I booked a flight to Washington D.C. and attended Lobby Day for an organization claiming to represent the interests of those with CFS. It was during that long day walking through the Capitol, reminding our government that it must do more, that I met the dedicated staff of the CFIDS Association.

I soon saw that the CFIDS Association had all the traits I was looking for. Low overhead, a mission focused on public policy advocacy and scientific research, the experience and connections necessary to make progress. Which is all very important to me. Because as I go out and ask our generous donors for their continued support, I do so with a clear head—I believe the best thing that CFS patients and their loved ones can do to better their situation is to invest in our efforts both to build a network of talented and engaged CFS researchers and to increase the federal investment in CFS research through advocacy.