Think about how often you’ve tried to explain PIDD to someone new. Think about the reaction(s) you may have gotten. Many thought you might be crazy, many thought you might have ANOTHER disease, and many just stared at you like a deer caught in the headlights.
This month is the time we attempt to and often successfully educate others about our PIDD. The Immune Deficiency Foundation has offered some great suggestions in their recent newsletter. I’m going to paste the info and the links here so that you can TAKE ACTION and help SPREAD THE WORD.
April is PIDD Awareness Month
Time to Spread the Word!
This April, celebrate Primary Immunodeficiency Disease Awareness Month by educating others. Now is the time to take action in your community and below is a list of some of the many ways you can help spread awareness. Let us know of your activities and success with promoting awareness, and remember that your efforts might help save a life!
Get the Word Out
Set up a display or post materials at hospitals, health fairs, libraries, plasma centers or other community gathering spots.
Awareness Month is the perfect time for you to become involved and help others understand more about primary immunodeficiency diseases. The “Is it Just and Infection?” poster is the perfect poster for your display, and is available by contacting IDF at 800.296.4433, or by clicking here.
If you want more posters or you need additional handout information about primary immunodeficiency diseases and IDF services, simply contact IDF at 800.296.4433 or e-mail idf@primaryimmune.org. All materials are free of charge.
Contact Your Local Media
Reporters pay attention to stories about real people, so share your own personal experience with primary immunodeficiency disease. Use Primary Immunodeficiency Disease Awareness Month as an opportunity to educate the public.
Click here to download the IDF Media Kit; which has ideas, and sample materials to send to your local media:
THINK ZEBRA!
In medical school, many doctors learn the saying, “when you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras.” Most physicians are taught to focus on the likeliest possibilities when making a diagnosis, not the unusual ones. However, sometimes physicians need to look for a zebra. Primary immunodeficiency patients are the zebras of the medical world. So IDF says THINK ZEBRA! Let’s teach the world about “ ZEBRAS ” while raising funds to help promote awareness of primary immunodeficiency diseases.
Click here to visit www.primaryimmune.org/zebra and learn more about IDF’s THINK ZEBRA! campaign:
Blue Jeans for Healthy Genes
Blue Jeans for Healthy Genes Day is a special event when people are asked to make a donation to the IDF for the chance to wear jeans (to work, school, etc.) and join the fight against primary immunodeficiency diseases. An alternative way to participate is by hosting the Hanging Up Jeans program, which creates awareness and raises funds by offering small cut-out pairs of paper jeans for a donation. The jeans are then signed by their sponsor and put on display.
Host a Blue Jeans for Healthy Genes Day or the Hanging Up Jeans program at workplaces, companies, schools and organizations and seize the opportunity to educate those around you and raise funds for further research and patient programs. Blue Jeans for Healthy Genes kits and more information are available here.
Take Action!
Primary Immunodeficiency Disease Awareness Month is the ideal time to undertake some of these ideas or try a few of your own. IDF staff is available to answer questions, help with plans and provide the materials you need. For more information, contact Adam Freestone at 443.632.2546 or afreestone@primaryimmune.org.
Think about how often you’ve tried to explain PIDD to someone new. Think about the reaction(s) you may have gotten. Many thought you might be crazy, many thought you might have ANOTHER disease, and many just stared at you like a deer caught in the headlights.
This month is the time we attempt to and often successfully educate others about our PIDD. The Immune Deficiency Foundation has offered some great suggestions in their recent newsletter. I’m going to paste the info and the links here so that you can TAKE ACTION and help SPREAD THE WORD.
April is PIDD Awareness Month
Time to Spread the Word!
This April, celebrate Primary Immunodeficiency Disease Awareness Month by educating others. Now is the time to take action in your community and below is a list of some of the many ways you can help spread awareness. Let us know of your activities and success with promoting awareness, and remember that your efforts might help save a life!
Get the Word Out
Set up a display or post materials at hospitals, health fairs, libraries, plasma centers or other community gathering spots.
Awareness Month is the perfect time for you to become involved and help others understand more about primary immunodeficiency diseases. The “Is it Just and Infection?” poster is the perfect poster for your display, and is available by contacting IDF at 800.296.4433, or by clicking here.
If you want more posters or you need additional handout information about primary immunodeficiency diseases and IDF services, simply contact IDF at 800.296.4433 or e-mail idf@primaryimmune.org. All materials are free of charge.
Contact Your Local Media
Reporters pay attention to stories about real people, so share your own personal experience with primary immunodeficiency disease. Use Primary Immunodeficiency Disease Awareness Month as an opportunity to educate the public.
Click here to download the IDF Media Kit; which has ideas, and sample materials to send to your local media:
THINK ZEBRA!
In medical school, many doctors learn the saying, “when you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras.” Most physicians are taught to focus on the likeliest possibilities when making a diagnosis, not the unusual ones. However, sometimes physicians need to look for a zebra. Primary immunodeficiency patients are the zebras of the medical world. So IDF says THINK ZEBRA! Let’s teach the world about “ ZEBRAS ” while raising funds to help promote awareness of primary immunodeficiency diseases.
Click here to visit www.primaryimmune.org/zebra and learn more about IDF’s THINK ZEBRA! campaign:
Blue Jeans for Healthy Genes
Blue Jeans for Healthy Genes Day is a special event when people are asked to make a donation to the IDF for the chance to wear jeans (to work, school, etc.) and join the fight against primary immunodeficiency diseases. An alternative way to participate is by hosting the Hanging Up Jeans program, which creates awareness and raises funds by offering small cut-out pairs of paper jeans for a donation. The jeans are then signed by their sponsor and put on display.
Host a Blue Jeans for Healthy Genes Day or the Hanging Up Jeans program at workplaces, companies, schools and organizations and seize the opportunity to educate those around you and raise funds for further research and patient programs. Blue Jeans for Healthy Genes kits and more information are available here.
Take Action!
Primary Immunodeficiency Disease Awareness Month is the ideal time to undertake some of these ideas or try a few of your own. IDF staff is available to answer questions, help with plans and provide the materials you need. For more information, contact Adam Freestone at 443.632.2546 or afreestone@primaryimmune.org.