Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex chronic illness
that results in profound fatigue and a number of other debilitating
symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
and The CFIDS Association of America have launched a $6 million,
multifaceted CFS public awareness campaign to provide vital
information about who is at risk for CFS, the symptoms of
the illness, treatment and management options, the importance
of seeking diagnosis and treatment and the impact of CFS illness
on both patients and family members.
Called SPARK!, the campaign will ignite interest in CFS and
spark increased understanding about the illness among the
general public, health care professionals, legislators and
the media. The campaign also has the potential to increase
research funding for CFS from federal, biotech and pharmaceutical
sources over the next decade.
A primary component of this public awareness campaign is
a national traveling photo exhibit called The Faces of CFS.
One of the main issues surrounding CFS is that its patients
don’t “look sick.” The exhibit features photographs
of CFS patients, researchers and clinicians and their stories
about dealing with the illness. Fashion and celebrity photographer
George Lange has aimed his lens at the famous, the infamous
and the just plain ordinary. He has photographed presidents
and celebrities, models and fashion designers, artists and
CEOs, top chefs and musicians. (View his portfolio at langephoto.com).
Lange brilliantly captured the strength and courage of 8
CFS patients and 2 health care professionals who are experts
on the illness. The portraits are printed on 10 huge banners,
each more than 7 feet tall. Viewed together, they are dramatic.
Response from people who have seen the exhibit has been overwhelmingly
positive, and viewers are finding it not only educational
but incredible moving and poignant.
The Faces of CFS will travel throughout the country through
most of 2008. To learn more about SPARK!, visit cfids.org/sparkcfs/default.asp.
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