Thank You for Helping Us Raise Funds for ME Research UK

June 1, 2026

A huge thank you to everyone who purchased a Blue Sunday gift box, shared the campaign, or helped spread the word. Every order contributed towards supporting vital research into ME/CFS, and we're so grateful for your support.

What is Blue Sunday?

Blue Sunday: The Tea Party for M.E. is an annual, accessible virtual fundraising event for people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E./CFS) and their allies. Created in 2013 by Anna of the blog Life in the slow lane, it is designed so that people who are homebound or bedbound can still participate in M.E. Awareness Month.

How it Works

The event is completely flexible and tailored to what any one person's body and energy levels allow:

Set the scene: Enjoy tea and cake, whether in your kitchen, from your bed, or via a video call.
Dress the part: Wear something blue (as blue is the awareness color for M.E./CFS, and pyjamas count!).
Share and connect: Post a photo of your tea party setup on social media using the hashtags #BlueSunday and #TeaPartyForME, and connect with others in the community.
Donate: Many participants donate the cost of what they would normally pay for tea and cake in a cafe to an M.E./CFS charity.

You can find more information, learn how to donate, or see the wider community celebrating on the Blue Sunday Anna Blog.

How did BearHugs get involved in Blue Sunday this year?

As many of you know, ME/CFS is a cause that is particularly close to our hearts at BearHugs. Living with a chronic illness was one of the experiences that ultimately led to the creation of BearHugs, so being able to support awareness and research in a small way always feels important.

To mark Blue Sunday, we created a simple letterbox-friendly gift containing a comforting cup of English Breakfast tea and a delicious fudgy chocolate brownie. The idea was to offer a little moment of comfort while also raising funds for a cause that means so much to many people in the chronic illness community. It was available for a very limited time in May 2026.

Thanks to your kindness, we were able to donate £105 to ME Research UK, helping to support the charity's ongoing work funding biomedical research into ME/CFS.

While £105 may seem like a modest amount, one of the things we've always believed at BearHugs is that small acts of kindness can add up to make a real difference. Whether that's sending a hug in a box to a friend who is struggling or supporting a charity doing important work, every contribution matters.

From us, thank you for helping us turn tea, brownies and kindness into something that will have an impact beyond a letterbox.

Gift set with a mug, small box, and card in a 'Bear Hug' branded box on a table.

A Little About BearHugs

We love helping people send all the warmth and comfort of a hug from afar.

When you order a ‘hug in a box’ gift hamper, you can add extra personal touches such as your own message. Every BearHugs gift box is hand-packed with love and then popped in the post so it can be sent directly to a doorstep of your loved one.

We’re really proud of our signature 'hug' gift boxes which reveal outstretched paws and a ‘Consider this a BearHug’ message on opening. They never fail to make us smile and we love hearing that they’ve made recipients smile too.

Send a Hug