Today, April 27th, 2015, I
was browsing the internet for research into Lupus Awareness Month
(May) and World Lupus Day (May 10th.) Since The Purple
Moth's community also supports invisible illnesses, autoimmune
diseases and all chronic illness, I went in search of awareness dates
for these as well so that I may post accordingly in the future...only
to find that there was neither a day, nor a week, nor even month
to raise awareness about chronic illness!
While Lupus,
autoimmune disease, and invisible illness all fall under the category
of “chronic,” and despite the fact that chronic
conditions are the leading cause of death in the United States to
date, there were no dates attributed to the entirety of chronic
illness. There was also no awareness ribbon, which autoimmunity,
invisible illness and Lupus all have.
Chronic Illness Awareness starts
RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!
Here's what you
need to know to get on board the campaign:
 |
Q: When will Chronic Illness
Awareness Month/Day be set?
A: April is
“Chronic Illness Awareness Month,” and “Chronic Illness
Awareness Day” will fall annually upon April 27th.
Q: What does the awareness ribbon
look like?
A: The ribbon is
bright purple (fuchsia) on the outside and bright green (lime) on the
inside.
 |
| http://www.supportourribbons.com/ |
Q: Why these colors?
A: Most
health-awareness ribbons are either purple or green. Since chronic
illnesses cover many of the diseases and conditions represented by ribbons of these colors, both were used to remind the wearer that
each, individual condition is equally as important as the collective
group of people with chronic ailments. The colors are bright,
because neon colors represent being noticed, and chronic illness
awareness wasn't acknowledged at all until right now.
Support Chronic Illness
Awareness by Getting Involved!
I'm
not sitting back and waiting for this to get started; I'm asking for
each and every person who cares about their own health or the health
of others to do one or more of the following they feel comfortable with:
#1.
Submit artwork containing the new awareness ribbon in whatever
style you love!
#2. Respond to any of the following
questions you feel comfortable answering and submit them to my email:
- How do you feel this campaign can help people with chronic illness?
- What would you like to see this campaign accomplish?
- How do you feel others view people who are chronically ill?
- Why do you feel there hasn't been a chronic illness awareness campaign up 'til now?
#3. Share your story!
- What type of condition do you have?
- What have been your hardest struggles and most enlightening moments?
- Has your condition enabled you to learn any valuable life lessons?
#4. Share your experience knowing
somebody else with a chronic condition, like a friend or family
member:
- How has it effected them?
- How has it effected you?
- How do you like to show your support?
- Do you feel this campaign will help them, and if so, how?
 |
| http://birthofathena.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/chronicallyfabulous.png |
Depending on the length and detail of
your submission, I will either use your entire story or parts of your
story to make up part of an article about people's testimonies. This
is your chance to share your support with the world, and be among the
first people to get involved with Chronic Illness Awareness.
An art gallery of people's ribbon art
will be posted at the end of May, and will fully credit each
illustrator. Submit your ribbon (or other chronic illness art) in any
medium you like. Remember, keep it G-rated and do not
plagiarize!
So get on board! Help me raise
awareness for everybody: your friends, your family and yourself!
Send any submissions to:
NikeNicholson@gmail.com
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