24Hrs For ME

Hi, my name is Glen Smetherham, and alongside my friend Alexis Oosterhoff, I'm undertaking an endurance challenge called "24 Hours for ME" in September 2025.

Why we're fundraising: A Dual Mission for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) & Personal Resilience

This project is deeply personal.

My family has been directly impacted by Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), a serious, complex and disabling neuroimmune condition that affects every system in the body, significantly reducing functional capacity.

Our daughter Lily has severe ME and has been bed-bound, for a few years, requiring assistance with personal care.

The "24 Hours for ME" Project has two equally vital goals, reflected in the dual meaning of "ME":

1: To Create a Powerful Documentary for Awareness: We'll be filming our entire journey to produce a documentary. This film aims to be a crucial awareness tool, educating the public about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), sharing the realities of living with or caring for someone with the condition, and highlighting the urgent need for greater understanding and support. Simultaneously, the documentary will explore the importance of personal 'me' time – the resilience, recovery, and self-care essential for individuals, especially caregivers and those supporting loved ones with chronic illness, to maintain their own well-being.

2: To Raise Vital Funds for ME Research: We want to directly support the incredible work being done by the National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED) to advance research into ME.

The Challenge:

To draw attention to this cause, Alexis and I will attempt to:

Fly from Perth to Sydney.

Run the 80km Bondi to Manly Ultra course.

Fly back to Perth. ...all within a continuous 24-hour period.

How Your Support Will Be Used:

Alexis and I are personally covering all our own costs for the travel and participation in the run itself.

Your generous donations will be allocated with full transparency:

Investing in Awareness (The Documentary): To ensure the documentary can effectively convey both aspects of "ME" and reach as many people as possible, our initial fundraising goal is to cover essential, lean post-production costs (like professional sound design and a final story polish) and any critical small gear items not covered by sponsors.

We will use up to a maximum of A$5,000 from the funds raised for these direct documentary production expenses.

While this A$5,000 is a very modest sum for an independent documentary – it certainly won't be winning any Oscars! – it will allow us to make the film the best it can possibly be with the resources we have, ensuring it's a powerful tool for awareness.

We will use up to a maximum of A$5,000 from the funds raised for these direct documentary production expenses.

Funding ME Research:

Any portion of this A$5,000 not used for direct documentary expenses will also be donated directly to the National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED).

Furthermore, every single dollar raised beyond this initial A$5,000 target will go directly to NCNED to support their vital ME research.

By supporting "24 Hours for ME," you're not just helping us complete an endurance challenge; you're investing in a project that aims to make a real difference in the lives of those affected by ME through increased awareness, a deeper understanding of resilience, and crucial research funding.

Thank you for considering supporting our journey and this important cause.