11 years ago my father Allan Dickinson developed Myalgic Encephalopathy, better and more pronouncably known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This little-understood illness leaves sufferers with very little energy, and sometimes difficulty concentrating. This greatly impacted his quality of life, forcing him to give up more and more things as the years passed. Eventually, he had to take early retirement from work because of it.

He found (and gave) a lot of support and comfort from (and to) a group of fellow sufferers (spoonies) on Twitter. Last year, they held an event on ME Awareness Day, 12th May, called The Princesses and M.E., where they did the one thing they all could; they slept. Dressed as Princesses. Dad was not a man to be put off by gender conventions, and so Princess Allan (and his fetching hot pink wig) joined Team Princess as well.

Tragically, just a few months later, he passed away, indirectly resulting from his M.E. He is sorely missed by family, friends and princesses alike.

I know he would have been part of Team Princess this year as well, so in his memory, I offered to take his place.

I am raising money for Invest in ME. There are several good ME charities out there; IiME is the one that Dad supported last year. The work they do brings short term help to sufferers, and the long-term hope of a cure; a fairy-tale ending for all the Princesses.