Benefit + Awareness Month

Raising voices for the chronic illness community

Ever since Opera Mariposa started, we’ve held an annual Benefit + Awareness event to raise funds and awareness for chronic neuro-immune diseases. Through the generosity of our community, our 2026 Benefit + Awareness Month raised $11,090.91 for the ME | FM Society of BC – bringing our charity fundraising total to over $160,000 since Mariposa started!

Our 14th annual charity benefit may be over, but you can still enjoy a year-round showcase of some of the artistic creations by chronically ill creatives. Check them out below.

LEARN MORE

Access: All online. By donation and free. Programming includes captions and artwork image descriptions as applicable; find access info for the Blue Sunday social on the dedicated event page. There are many asynchronous ways to take part, so please, go at your own pace!

The ME | FM Society of BC is a registered Canadian charity working to support and advocate for people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), Long-Covid and Fibromyalgia (FM). They work to educate the healthcare community, government and public; provide information and resources for patients and their families; champion issues that impact the ME, Long-Covid and FM community; and promote state-of-the-art medical research, testing, diagnosis and treatments. They are also dedicated to building an inclusive, accessible organization that creates opportunities for the participation of patients, carers and family members at every level. | www.mefm.bc.ca

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (also known as ME or ME/CFS)* is a complex chronic disease characterized by debilitating exhaustion unrelieved by sleep, and symptoms that worsen after even minor physical or mental activity (known as post-exertional malaise or PEM). Classified as a neurological disease by the WHO since 1969, ME affects many body systems, and can cause everything from chronic pain and muscle weakness to heart issues, immune problems, cognitive dysfunction, and malfunctions of the autonomic nervous system (known as dysautonomia).

“Mild” ME typically reduces function by at least 50%, while moderate to severe cases can resemble living with heart failure or end-stage cancer for decades. 75% of people with ME cannot work, and the illness has the lowest quality-of-life score of all common diseases. Prior to the pandemic, ME affected over half a million Canadians and an estimated 17-24 million people worldwide. Despite this, ME is seldom taught in medical schools; up to 91% of patients aren’t even diagnosed; and there are no FDA-approved treatments or cures.

Around 80% of ME cases are triggered by infectious illnesses, and the number of people with ME is increasing exponentially right now due to COVID-19. Several studies suggest that around half of Long Covid patients may meet the criteria for ME. | Learn more

* occasionally referred to as SEID, or by the term Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (which some consider outdated)

Long Covid (LC)* refers to cases where Covid survivors experience persistent symptoms, or develop new symptoms and health damage, following an infection with COVID-19. These symptoms can emerge on a delay, and may last for many weeks, months or years. They may also lead to new lifelong conditions, including ME/CFS.

People of all ages and genders can develop Long Covid, and research shows it can affect previously-healthy adults and children; people who have been vaccinated; and those who had initially mild or asymptomatic Covid infections. Conservatively, at least 10-30% of non-hospitalized Covid cases (and up to 80% of hospitalized cases) result in Long Covid, with risks that multiply with each reinfection. At least 1 in 9 Canadian adults and 400 million people worldwide have developed Long Covid as of 2024, and numbers continue to rise. The majority have not recovered.

Long Covid can cause over 200 possible symptoms, including debilitating fatigue and post-exertional malaise; breathing problems; heart problems; blood vessel damage and clots; immune system damage; reproductive issues; and neurological issues like memory loss. Many Long Covid patients must reduce their work or school hours, or cannot work at all. Due to the ongoing rise in cases, the government of Canada has referred to Long Covid as a “potential mass-disabling event”. | learn more

* sometimes referred to as long-haul Covid, Post-Covid Condition (PCC), or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC)

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex chronic illness that affects over half a million Canadians and at least 2-3% of people worldwide. As one of the most common causes of chronic widespread pain worldwide, it is characterized by widespread burning pain and severe fatigue, and can also cause other debilitating symptoms including cognitive impairment (“brain fog”), digestive issues, severe sleep problems, autonomic dysfunction and more.

As with ME and Long Covid, symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary not just from person to person but from day to day, and some patients may even appear superficially healthy. Nevertheless, fibromyalgic pain can be unrelenting, and the UK’s National Health Service ranks it as one of the 20 most painful health conditions.

Fibromyalgia can also be associated with impaired joints and fascia (connective tissues) — an issue shared with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a genetic disorder with which it can co-occur. In fact, fibromyalgia can occur alongside many other serious conditions such as ME, autoimmune diseases, endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic migraines, interstitial cystitis and more, and the overlapping symptoms can affect every aspect of a person’s daily life. | Learn more

Download a PDF about the charitable cause here.

Graphic with a purple and blue butterfly resting on a purple flower, amidst a misty blue background and green field. Purple text reads, 'Opera Mariposa's Benefit + Awareness Month for the ME | FM Society of BC, May 1 - June 1, 2026.' A purple moon-shaped medallion features additional text: 'Triple your donation. Art, prizes, online tea party for ME/CFS, Long Covid, fibromyalgia. Donations tripled in support of the chronic illness community.' At the bottom of the graphic, a teal bar features the URL Benefit.OperaMariposa.com and icon images showing online access, English closed captioning, self-paced activities, with participation by donation and free. Tiny text adds, Support up to $3,000 wiill be triple-matched!

in support of the
ME | FM Society of BC

May 1 – launch of our Benefit + Awareness Month
May 12 – International Awareness Day for ME, FM and other chronic neuro-immune diseases. Wear blue and purple to show your support!
May 17 – Blue Sunday, the “tea party for ME”. Join the ME | FM Society for a special online gathering, or join people around the world on socials!
June 1 – last day to enter our prize draw!

What’s On

Closeup of Jacqueline Ko, a disabled Chinese-Canadian woman in a black beaded gown, holding a vintage microphone and looking over her shoulder against a misty purple background.

Music & Videos

Join Opera Mariposa’s award-winning artists for studio singles and digital performances, including video highlights from past events!

WATCH / LISTEN

Art Showcase

Art meets advocacy in these exquisite creations by visual and multidisciplinary artists with ME, Long Covid and fibromyalgia.

EXPERIENCE

Merch

Mariposa has merch! Check out exclusive new items in our Benefit + Awareness collection to support a great cause!

SHOP NOW

Closeup of a black condenser microphone, viewed from below, with a high wooden ceiling blurred in the background.

Give Now

Make an impact for people with chronic illnesses. Donations are tripled til June 1 – and as a thank you, you’ll get a prize draw entry as well!

GIVE NOW

Graphic featuring assorted prizes against a rainbow background, including a Blue Sunday t-shirt (worn by an Asian woman with dark hair), blue and white stickers, totes and a mug featuring illustrations by Grae Salisbury, and gift cards for Lee Valley, Skip the Dishes and Redbubble.

Prize Draw

As a thank you to our supporters, we’re giving away merch packs featuring the work of artist Grae Salisbury, plus some amazing gift cards!

ENTER TO WIN

Closeup of tea in a rose-patterned Royal Albert teacup, surrounded by a spread of scones, buns and chocolate biscuits on a white tablecloth strewn with bluebells.

Blue Sunday

Join us on Zoom for a virtual “tea party for ME”, hosted by the ME | FM Society of BC! Connect with community from home or from bed.

LEARN MORE

Surreal collage of a large shell that has been opened. Inside its base is a light blue bed with a white woman who has black hair and red lips. She is sitting up and stretching out her arms as if she has just awoken from a deep slumber. The roof of the shell is a starry night sky with a crescent moon.

Art Showcase

Art meets advocacy in these exquisite creations by visual and multidisciplinary artists with ME, Long Covid, and fibromyalgia.

CHECK IT OUT

Music & Videos

Check out studio singles for charity, digital performances, and honest accounts of how chronic illness affects their practices.

WATCH / LISTEN

Flatlay of bowl of eggs and a light blue cooking apron with an illustration reminiscent of a Victorian teacup pattern, featuring floral elements interspersed with chronic illness accessories, around a teacup and teapot against rays of light. Victorian style text reads, Blue Sunday.

Merch

Mariposa has merch! Check out all the exclusive new items in our Benefit + Awareness collection, with 100% of proceeds supporting charity.

SHOP NOW

Enjoy more opera content online

Discover Opera Mariposa’s latest digital offerings.

What’s On