Join Us in Raising Awareness for These Causes in August

08/03/2020

By Deasia Lamar, Communications Intern 

Patient advocacy groups continue to work tirelessly to educate, promote, advocate, and raise awareness and funding for their causes. During this difficult time for nonprofits, it is a necessity to prioritize patient advocacy in order to help spread awareness for their causes on behalf of people with chronic diseases and disabilities. Here’s how you can help advance these groups’ missions and spread awareness. 

Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month 

August is Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a disease that affects the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, impacting a person’s ability to walk, eat, and breathe. According to NHC member, Cure SMA, SMA is the number one genetic cause for infant mortality, affecting approximately one in 11,000 births. Cure SMA works year-round to raise awareness for SMA. Cure SMA uses August to place a spotlight on those impacted by SMA. This year, Cure SMA will engage the SMA community during SMA Awareness Month by hosting virtual events, telling stories, and using social media to share information about SMA.  

Ways to Get Involved: 

  • Join Cure SMA in August for a YouTube video series entitled “Conversations with the Community.” 
  • Organize a group candle lighting on August 8 and submit candle lighting photos to Cure SMA’s Facebook Community Album. 
  • Change your profile picture to include the official Cure SMA Twibbon banner for SMA Awareness Month. 
  • Download and share Cure SMA “fact graphics” on your personal page or pages you manage. 
  • Participate in the SMA Awareness Month Community album on Facebook! Post photos to the comment section of the Facebook post or email them to [email protected] for Cure SMA to add. 
  • Tag Cure SMA in SMA Awareness Month events you and your loved ones join and use the hashtags #CureSMA and #SMAAwarenessMonth. 

 Psoriasis Awareness Month 

Join the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) in observing Psoriasis Awareness Month in August. According to the NPF, psoriasis is an immune mediated disease that causes raised, red, scaly patches to appear on the skin. Psoriasis is often associated with other, serious health conditions including diabetes, heart disease, and depression. More than eight million Americans are affected by psoriasis. The National Psoriasis Foundation is dedicated to helping those with Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis manage their symptoms, while also promoting research for a psoriasis cure. Help the NPF reach for a cure by getting involved.  

Ways to get involved: 

  • Take the National Psoriasis Foundation interactive quiz to test your knowledge of psoriasis. 
  • Follow NPS on Instagram, to keep up with special guests every week and chances to bring home free merchandise. 
  • Donate to the National Psoriasis Foundation to help fund research.  

Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month 

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. As kids head back to school, Prevent Blindness is dedicated to highlighting Children’s eye safety. According to Prevent Blindness, Uncorrected refractive errors (including significant near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism) in infants and preschool-age children are associated with clinically identified deficits in cognitive and visual-motor functions that may, in turn, have a negative impact on school readiness. This month’s awareness initiatives will include information about amblyopia, a condition that can affect two to three percent of children and causes permanent vision loss. Prevent Blindness will also highlight topics such as preventing eye injuries in children, signs of possible eye problems and general eye health during this month.  

 Ways to get involved: