Beth Dobbin has secured remarkable backing in her campaign to raise awareness of myalgic encephalomyelitis, with more than 350 sportspeople signing a letter urging the UK prime minister to meet with the sprinter and commit to increased ME research funding.
The petition represents a powerful cross-section of British sport, bringing together Olympic medallists, football managers, and elite athletes in unified support. Olympian sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, diver Tom Daley, and athlete Laura Muir joined the effort, alongside football figures including David Moyes, manager at Everton, and Emma Hayes, coach of the USA women’s national team. Former Chelsea and England centre-back Millie Bright, distance runner Eilish McColgan, and sprinter Adam Gemili also added their names to the campaign.
Addressing the Funding Gap
The letter highlights a critical disparity in research investment, seeking to bring ME onto an equal footing with illnesses such as Parkinson’s and dementia. This funding gap has long been identified as a barrier to understanding and treating the condition, which affects countless individuals across the UK.
The campaign has garnered substantial momentum since its launch. “I’ve had thousands and thousands of messages of support, it’s really shocked me how much it’s spread worldwide,” Dobbin reflected on the response.
Supporting Voices
Karen Hargrave, co-founder of ThereForME, lent her expertise to the initiative, bringing organisational weight to the appeal. The letter also received backing from Andy Burnham, a prominent politician committed to health advocacy, underscoring the cross-party and cross-sector nature of the push.
The collective action represents one of the largest coordinated efforts by sports figures to advocate for ME research funding in recent years, demonstrating the significant concern within the athletic community about the condition and its impact on athletes and the broader population.