International May 12th Awareness Day, also known as International ME/CFS Awareness Day is held every year to raise awareness of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, Gulf War syndrome and other chronic immunological and neurological diseases (CIND).

[1][2] International May 12th Awareness Day aims to: The main illnesses involved in International May 12th Awareness Day are ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, and Gulf War syndrome.

[3] Other Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases also recognized by the event include Addison's, Alzheimer's, autism, celiac, chronic myofascial pain, Crohn's, epilepsy, irritable bowel disease (IBD), Lou Gehrig's (ALS), lupus, Lyme disease, mold/biotoxin illness, multiple sclerosis (MS), orthostatic intolerance (OI), Parkinson's, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSD), and ulcerative colitis.

[7][8] Public landmarks are lit up in color for International May 12th Awareness Day, typically using blue for ME and purple for fibromyalgia.

[11] August 8 was chosen because it is the birthday of Sophia Mirza, who was believed to be the first British person to have chronic fatigue syndrome listed as a cause of death.