Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month (RDAM) is right around the corner! September marks the fifth annual commemoration of this important event, which is sponsored by the American College of Rheumatology and its Simple Tasks™ public awareness campaign.
RDAM is a national event created to raise awareness about the many conditions that fall under the umbrella of rheumatic disease – “Hundreds of Diseases. One Voice.”
Every year, the goal of RDAM is to increase public understanding and awareness of the symptoms, risk factors, treatment options, and lifestyle and healthcare challenges associated with rheumatic diseases.
This year’s theme for RDAM is “My Disease May Be Invisible, But I’m Not” and will feature the voices and experiences of people who live with rheumatic diseases. By amplifying patient stories, the hope is to increase understanding and awareness of what it is like to live with a chronic disease that can sometimes feel “invisible.”
They have many exciting activities planned for the month, including a Tell Your Story feature on the website, a national patient survey, and blog and video posts from their three patient spokespeople for this year’s event.
You can get involved this month by telling your own story of what it is like to live with a rheumatic disease. Use their website tool to share a quote, photo or video message. As a way of expressing our gratitude for your involvement, at the end of the month, if your story is randomly selected, you could win a $100 Visa gift card!
By participating in this year’s Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month and telling your story, you are taking an important step in supporting our national efforts to improve quality of life for Americans living with rheumatic diseases. Stay tuned in the weeks ahead for more patient stories and ways to spread the word! Be sure to follow ACR Simple Tasks on Twitter for updates.
