The goal of our Take Control of Your Pain patient seminars is to make you become better educated regarding treatments, how to utilize your voice with advocacy efforts and help you find local support.
We will have doctors and patients that will discuss the latest advances in pain management and complementary therapies. Our INvisible Project will be on display.
Local groups working to help the pain community will also be in attendance. This is an event you don't want to miss!
This is a free education event open to the public.
WHEN
WHERE
Hilton Hotel - 2855 Milwaukee Ave, Northbrook, Illinois 60062
Can't attend in person? That's okay! You can join us via LIVE streaming!
Seniors and individuals with disabilities struggle with complex conditions like cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, hypertension, immunodeficiency diseases and chronic pain. Medicare beneficiaries living with these illnesses rely on access to prescription drugs and biologics provided through the Medicare Part B benefit. Access to these life-saving drugs could, ultimately, be threatened. It is urgent that you contact your Members of Congress in Washington, DC to share your concerns. Say "yes" to patients by contacting your legislators today.
August is a time of preparation for many connected to the pain community. While those living with pain can personally attest that every day with pain is pain awareness day, September marks national attention as being Pain Awareness Month. It is a unique opportunity for those with pain to say, "I matter and deserve to be heard."
As U.S. Pain gears up for another amazing September filled with awareness events, community outreach, daily action items and the unveiling of new programs, we are also highly engaged this month too, ensuring people with pain matter.
Last weekend, U.S. Pain hosted an Advocacy Summit at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine.
Every single person I met inspired me, making me even more ready to speak up for people with pain. I heard your stories, felt your pain, relished in your achievements, and I am humbled beyond belief.
When starting U.S. Pain Foundation from my laptop in my bed, I never dreamed so many people would be willing to sacrifice to make change for others. And I know this desire to be heard and create positive, lasting change transcends further than those I met this weekend; it is the entire pain community.
I promise that together we will make change. Your voices will be heard. But I need your help in echoing the sentiments that people with pain deserve treatments and not labels, more compassion, and solutions that will come from further NIH research. Never forget that people with pain matter. You matter.
At the U.S. Pain Ambassador and Advocacy Summit, Maine resident and facilitator of the Chronic Pain Support Group of Southern Maine, Ernie Merritt, presented me with this beautiful handcrafted cane.
This cane will be traveling with U.S. Pain to various events next year as a symbol of who people with pain are: individuals with unique gifts and talents.
Thank you Ernie, for being the embodiment of living life with pain with hope and fulfillment. You are an inspiration, and I am incredibly humbled by your gift.
Preparing for September: Pain Awareness Month
The number 30 is quickly becoming a favorite among the chronic pain community. Why? It's the number of days that patient-centered organizations, like U.S. Pain Foundation, has in order to raise awareness nationally about what it means to live with the complex disease of chronic pain.
What is Pain Awareness Month?
On a national scale, September has been deemed as Pain Awareness Month. U.S. Pain increases its efforts to meet its mission: To educate, connect, inform and empower those living with pain while also advocating on behalf of the entire pain community. Throughout the month of September, U.S. Pain will recognize and validate the pain community while making sure the county better understands the magnitude of the health epidemic known as chronic pain.
While the organization strives to meet that goal on a daily basis and not just in September, it recognizes that the foundation must magnify its efforts as this is the time of year when society takes notice of the many hardships and injustices people with pain face.
During the 30 days, U.S. Pain has dedicated its time, energy and various programs towards capturing the many complex questions and difficulties that go along with chronic pain. More importantly, September provides the ability for us to unite with fellow like-minded groups, caregivers and patients to become a unified voice in the fight against existing societal stigmas placed around the many complex, rare and incurable chronic pain conditions.
Will you stand with us in September? This month's eNewsletter contains ways that you can become involved with our Pain Awareness Month campaign. We look forward to working alongside you for the betterment of the pain community.
U.S. Pain Foundation's 30 Day Challenge: A Month of Empowerment
One way of accomplishing our Pain Awareness Month campaign goals is by creating an engaging and creative way for Pain Ambassador Advocates, volunteers, members and overall supporters of the organization to participate in daily activities during September.
The 30 Day Challenge is an online, interactive initiative which will allow participants to view the daily challenges on the U.S. Pain Foundation's Facebook page. Most days the challenge will ask you to carry out a task that can be completed within the comfort of your own home. All you need is internet access and a mobile device or laptop!
This year, U.S. Pain will be tying in a theme to the challenge.
Why Empowerment? The time is now for the pain community to come together rather than divided, to unite our voices and to show America that we can live fulfilling lives despite our chronic pain condition. We are more than our diagnosis. We are as equally important as all other demographics within the country when it comes to fair treatment, funding and research.
Despite the negativity which has plagued the chronic pain community for far too long, U.S. Pain is taking this dark time in our lives to shed light on the good, the positive and encouraging moments and opportunities that pain warriors have.
U.S. Pain is hopeful that you will not only participate in our 30 Day Challenge, but will benefit from becoming a part of this social media campaign.
Proclaim September as Pain Awareness Month in YOUR State!
An ongoing initiative of U.S. Pain Foundation's Pain
Texas Pain Ambassador Jaclyn Drexel receives the approved September Pain Awareness Month Proclamation from Plano, TX Mayor Harry LaRosiliere
Awareness Month Campaign, state proclamations have proven to give hope and awareness to the over 100 million Americans living with chronic pain. The organization felt it important to call upon key lawmakers to stand with their constituents during September.
Through an already crafted template, Pain Ambassadors, Advocates and others can easily submit the proclamation request to their Governor (state websites have a section where you can submit the proclamation).
To Participate and obtain the official 2016 U.S. Pain proclamation template, please email:
[email protected] You can also submit locally to your municipal or city government.
Join U.S. Pain in Honoring our 2016 INvisible Project Participants
On October 22nd, U.S. Pain Foundation will be hosting the 2nd Annual Real Hope, Real Heroes Gala at the Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf Hotel in San Francisco to honor our profiled 2016 INvisible Project participants of Veterans as well as Kids & Their Families. The goal: to show the reality of life with pain, and to offer hope and inspiration to the millions like us.
This gala celebrates and recognizes the courage of these amazingly brave, inspiring individuals while raising awareness about chronic pain and funds for the programs of U.S. Pain Foundation. We hope you will join us October 22nd in honoring these individuals.
Details
The 2nd Annual Real Hope, Real Heroes Gala: A celebration of real-life heroes
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf Hotel
San Francisco, CA
6pm - 10pm
$125 per person I $225 per couple
Cocktail hour begins at 6pm with dinner to follow. Silent auction, DJ and Photo Booth. Cocktail Attire.
Interested in spreading the word about the gala or taking a more active role in the planning of the event? Please contact Nicole Hemmenway or Casey Cashman
