Sammie McFarland

Sammie is a dedicated health professional and advocate whose career spans early years education, independent maternity nursing, and breastfeeding consultancy for high-level private clients. With a deep passion for women’s well-being, she later launched her own business - empowering women through Pilates and functional health coaching, sports massage and scar therapy, and bodywork.

After facing the challenges of Long Covid in 2020 alongside her daughter - and experiencing its disabling effects first hand - Sammie transformed personal adversity into a call for action by founding Long Covid Kids. Initially established as a grassroots support network, it became, in 2022, the world's first charity dedicated to supporting children and young people affected by Long Covid, and has since evolved into a pioneering network serving over 11,000 members globally.

In recognition of its commitment, the charity received the 2022 Self Management Resource of the Year award from The Scottish Alliance, underscoring its dedication to improving outcomes for children and young people. Acknowledging her own dedication, Sammie was honoured as a Coronation Champion by The Royal Voluntary Service in 2023, and she received the Women's Wellbeing Coach of the Year and the Dorset Successful Women in Business Award in 2019.

Sammie's leadership and advocacy have helped raise awareness of Long Covid in children. She played a pivotal role in initiating early patient-led research and creating a platform for family support, contributing to the development of the digital resource "Shining A Light On Long Covid In Children And Young People." Throughout the pandemic, she has collaborated with key organisations, policymakers, and advisory groups to share valuable insights into paediatric lived experience, advancing understanding through co-produced research and professional publications.

Her evolving expertise has led to invitations to join expert panels, including the NIHR Expert Group on Long Covid, the NHS Long Covid Task Force, the WHO Expert Panel on Post-COVID Conditions, and the Clinical Post Covid Society. As a founding trustee of The Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation UK, she champions improved indoor air quality and the prevention of airborne diseases, advocating for policy and community support to enhance outcomes for adults and children affected by post-viral illnesses.

Beyond her advocacy, Sammie cherishes a quieter pace of life in Dorset, where family time and creative crafting offer essential moments for renewal, finding solace in nature and cold water swimming.

​

​