Since it's now four weeks until "The Big Day about the F Word" as I like to call it (Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, Nationally, Internationally), I wanted to post something about the history of how the day came to be and why May 12th was chosen. The information that came up on my Search on a search engine that I liked the best was on the website for a PR firm, Walson PR. I decided to call and introduce myself and see if this was a source willing to allow me to 'copy off my neighbor', since my theory with Lumigrate is to NOT re-create any wheels out there if there are good ones already but to spend time finding them, then network and collaborate as much as possible with the criteria of validity being foremost in mind.
I'm glad I did! One of the primaries in the organization, Corin Ramos, answered and had a few moments to chat and we had a nice conversation crammed into the time we had, from my perspective. It turns out that Walson PR is in California and does the NFA/National Fibromyalgia Association's PR work. Since I'd always been a couple of 'degrees' from the source on what I was hearing or knowing about the FNA in the years since Lumigrate launched in 2009 and I as working specifically with FMS information about half of my time or more, I am appreciative for having spoken with someone directly involved. She also updated me on a new nonprofit based out of Utah I was not aware of and gave me her perspective of FNAs history, which was was a good overview.
In general I found we had a lot more in common related to how we look at fibromyalgia and it's treatment through education than we have differences; clearly there's commitment and on their website it shares that one of their primaries has a FMS diagnosis. While Lumigrate takes an 'integrative medicine' approach to all wellness and health information from maintenance of the 'chronically well' 
to intervention for the chronically ill,
there are many people who are more comfortable somewhere else on the continuum of medical approaches than integrative and functional medicine. I'm really appreciative of those people having resources such as the NFA. As I told the woman from Walson PR, I
I'm respectful for the history of time they have been advocating for 'the cause' in their own way which their leadership has guided them and respect that they're still here after the two years of 'The Great Recession', which happened to coincide with when Lumigrate launched in 2009. Trust me, I commiserate and respect any organization that's been in these times. They've been challenging times, but really, anyone with fibromyalgia is used to that so I'm not surprised two very different organizations have survived it!
instead of 
due to lots of 
and 
.
Thanks to Walson PR for having done their part in that with the NFA AND to having said 'sure' to allowing me to provide this information for you at Lumigrate.com related to the history -- I really appreciate it. I suggest y'all check out their website for more information if you're interested, they have a lot of good stuff! I'm glad I did! ~~ Mardy
Pick a day, week or month. Chances are there is an “Awareness Day,” “Awareness Week” or “Awareness Month” designated for them, respectively.
Each year, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) publish a National Health Observances calendar.
Listed on the calendar is everything from National Birth Defects Prevention Month to World Salt Awareness Week.
Although the site’s disclaimer reads that the ODPHP and DHHS do not endorse nor are they responsible for naming or approving these national health observances, the public is encouraged to observe these national health days as a way to:
- Educate the public about health risks
- Organize successful health promotion events and campaigns
- Get new ideas, information, and resources on health topics of interest
The History of Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
In 1993, Tom Hennessy, the founder of RESCIND, INC. (Repeal Existing Stereotypes about Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases) designated May 12 as International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND).
The date was chosen to memorialize the birth date of Florence Nightingale, the English army nurse who inspired the founding of the International Red Cross. Nightingale contracted a paralyzing, CIND-like illness in her mid-thirties and spent the last 50 years of her life virtually bedridden. Despite her illness, she managed to found the first ever School of Nursing.
Since its inception in 1997, the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA) began leading the call for increased recognition of fibromyalgia each May 12, and has staged groundbreaking national and international events in honor of Awareness Day.
Today, National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day activities take place worldwide in an effort to increase awareness of this chronic pain illness. Awareness Day seeks to help patients and organizations educate the general public, healthcare professionals, government officials, and legislative bodies.
National fibromyalgia and chronic pain organizations, as well as local support groups around the country, host events in or around May 12 to create awareness and generate media interest in their cause.
Even if your organization or support group isn’t as big as the NFA or FCI, you can do many other things to commemorate National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day in your neighborhood and cities:
- Host a free lecture and invite a member of the medical community who treats fibromyalgia patients as your guest speaker;
- Organize a community walk around your neighborhood or mall;
- Petition your local government officials to proclaim May 12, 2010 as “National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day” in your city;
- Spread the viral word by joining a Cause or Fans page on Facebook and promoting Awareness Day to your own social networks;
- If you’re a medical professional, host an Open House in your office for your patients and community;
- Host a screening of fibromyalgia documentaries. We recommend “Living with Fibromyalgia” and “Show Me Where It Hurts.”
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Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!
Comments
... so I hope people read it who are interested in the history! ~~ Mardy
Note from 2013, I encourage people to click the link above this topic to go up a level to this forum on FM Awareness and look at the other things in this forum, we have been getting quite a good collection.
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate [2] and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!