Blue Sunday - The Tea Party for ME

We invite you to take part in the Tea Party for ME on Sunday, 17^th May 2026.

It's an opportunity to feel part of a movement: knowing that others are drinking tea (or whatever) and collectively thinking of you and all those living with ME/CFS. 

Blue Sunday, created by Anna Redshaw, is a special day where people come together over a cuppa and some cake to raise awareness and funds for those living with ME/CFS. Yes, you can do this quietly in your own home or just go out for coffee wearing something blue. 

It can also be an opportunity to help raise funds for us, but this is optional. Since 2013, Blue Sunday has raised over £100,000 (est. NZD$266,000) for ME/CFS organisations across the world. 

Get involved by doing one or more of the following (or version of): 

• Host a tea party at your home, workplace, community group, or even online! 

• Wear something blue - PJ’s or blue nail polish counts! 

• Enjoy a cup of tea (or coffee) and a slice of cake somewhere. 

• Take some photos of your tea party and share on social media with the hashtags #BlueSunday #MECFSCanterbury and tag us @mecfscanterburyinc on facebook and @mecfs_canterbury on instagram. We would love to see your photos! Or email us and we will share. Or share in our Facebook Group. 

• Ask guests and absent whānau to donate the price they’d pay at a cafe to support ME/CFS Canterbury / West Coast: www.mecfscanterbury.nz/donate.

For more info and resources, visit:

• the-slow-lane.com/blue-sunday-2026  

• the-slow-lane.com/2020/02/13/what-have-tea-and-cake-got-to-do-with-m-e

Image below of Anna Redshaw wearing blue at a blue-themed tea party for Blue Sunday.