Celebrating Joan McParland MBE and the Global Impact of Discover M.E.

We are delighted to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Joan McParland MBE, Hope4MEFibro a fearless campaigner for people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). Joan’s tireless advocacy has been instrumental in raising awareness, challenging stigma and amplifying the voices of those whose stories are too often unheard.

Our collaboration with Joan began nearly eight years ago, when she first invited us to test BreatheVR with her charity group. From that early prototype grew a shared commitment to harness immersive technology for empathy, understanding and education, leading to the creation of Discover M.E. - Hidden Lives Virtually Uncovered.

This pioneering virtual reality documentary places viewers within the lived experiences of people with ME, offering a first-person perspective into moments that are rarely seen or understood. By bridging the gap between perception and lived reality, Discover M.E. uses immersive storytelling to foster compassion, challenge misconceptions and shift policy conversations around chronic illness.

We are thrilled to share that Discover M.E. has now been accepted by the World ME Alliance, a global collaborative of 27 countries, as one of its recommended educational tools. It is proudly featured on the Alliance’s new Education Hub, helping to educate healthcare professionals, policymakers and the public around the world.