kudos to Kristin Thorson, FMNetwork and...and little known AFSA:

Each year since 2001, the IACFS has recognized extraordinary individuals outside the field of research who have contributed substantially to those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia. This category may include advocates, leaders, practitioners, supporters, or any person who has lent special effort or talent to the field.

This year's Special Service Award goes to a woman who has been tirelessly -- and almost single-handedly -- promoting FM and CFS research for about 20 years. She founded the FM Network in 1988 to provide news and current information to persons with FM. Working out of her own home, she developed a newsletter that has become the foremost source of FM information for patients.

Beginning in 1991, FM Network started hosting informational booths at major medical conferences to spread the word about the legitimacy of FM and CFS to people in the health care field, most of whom were physicians. Then in 1993 she founded AFSA the American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association http://www.afsafund.org/more.htm a non-profit organization that raises funds and supports research in FM and CFS. Over the next 13 years Kristin Thorson raised almost $2-million, which has supported 30 different research projects. Remarkably, AFSA is rated as one of the most efficient charitable organizations in the US because more than 90% of the donations goes directly toward research.

You may recognize Kristin Thorson because she has attended virtually all of the AACFS Conferences. Kristin has worked closely with some of the best known names in our field including Bob Bennett, Jon Russell, our former board members Dan Clauw and Don Uslan, sleep expert Harvey Moldofky, Dan Wallace, Richard Podell, Dan Peterson, Charles Lapp, and many others. It's time that we give recognition to this woman who has given so much to us, and especially to patients with FM and CFS.