Shades for Migraine 2020

Today, June 21, is Migraine Solidarity Day (aka, Shades for Migraine).

Shades for Migraine is a global campaign hosted by the Association of Migraine Disorders to promote migraine awareness and show support for the 1 billion people living with migraine disease worldwide. 

The collaborative campaign is simple to participate in: wear a pair of sunglasses of June 21, post a photo to social media with the hashtag #ShadesForMigraine, and challenge others to take part, too.

"Show you care, wear a pair."

Quick shoutout to my Dad: Happy Father's Day! 

© 2020 Jamie V.

 

© 2020 Jamie V.

© 2020 Jamie V.

Headache on the Hill Fundraising Event

Taking part in headache disorders advocacy is an important part of my journey living with chronic pain. While I participate in advocacy work throughout the year, one of my favorite events is Headache on the Hill (HOH) - you can follow the link to read about my HOH 2020 experience.

HOH is an annual event that brings together a large group of advocates in DC to share our stories, and call on lawmakers to recognize the impact and take action to reduce the burden (individual and societal) of headache disorders.

The Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy (AHDA) organizes the annual HOH event and covers one night hotel for each attending advocate. Most advocates must cover the remaining travel costs out of their own pockets.

In order to support the HOH event and provide assistance with travel scholarships for advocates to participate, Miles for Migraine is collaboratively* hosting a first-annual walk/run/relax fundraiser event from June 29 to July 7. 

There are a few different ways you can show your support: 

• Donate (any amount is greatly appreciated)
  
• Participate by walking, running, or relaxing (from 6/29 to 7/7)
  
• Share this post on social media 

© 2020 Jamie V.

This link takes you to the event page: HOH walk run relax event. From there, you can Pledge a Team (Chronic Migraine Warrior), Donate to a Participant (Jamie Valendy), or Register (and join my team). 

This link takes you to my team page: Team Chronic Migraine Warrior. From there, you can Make a donation or Join my team.

Please join me!

"Each one of us can make a difference. Together we make a change." - Barbara Mikulski

*Participating non-profit organizations for this event include:

• Miles for Migraine
  
• Coalition of Headache and Migraine Patients (CHAMP)
• National Headache Foundation (NHF)
• Clusterbusters
• The Headache and Migraine Policy Forum (HMPF)
• Headache Cooperative of New England
• Headache Cooperative of the Pacific
• Southern Headache Society
• American Migraine Foundation (AMF)
• US Pain Foundation
• Danielle Byron Henry Migraine Foundation
• Association of Migraine Disorders (AMD)

Migraine World Summit 2020 Replay

The Migraine World Summit is a virtual event that broadcasts interviews from over 30 leading experts, including doctors and specialists, to share about treatments, research, and strategies to help you manage and improve your headache disorder. 

The 2020 event took place in March. Due to the significant challenges we’re facing in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the event is being offered again from June 10-19. 

The event is FREE: the interviews will be open according to the event schedule (4 per day, plus 1 webinar), changing each day at 6pm ET. You can access the interviews directly on the website free for 24 hours. If you’d like to have lifetime access to the interviews, you can purchase the Summit All-Access Pass (affiliate link).

Register for free: Migraine World Summit 2020 Replay

Tune in June 9 at 5pm ET for a Live Pre-Summit Q&A with Hosts, Carl Cincinnato and Paula Dumas. They’ll explain why the Summit is being replayed, what’s new about the June Replay, and answer other questions. It’s free to join, but you must register beforehand. Click the link to register (no sign up required) for the Live Pre-Summit Q&A.

Wear Purple & Headache at Work

June 1 is the first day of Migraine and Headache Awareness Month (MHAM). Today, we’re highlighting a headache awareness initiative and headache at work. 

© 2020 Jamie V.

Wear Purple to Work (at Home)

The National Headache Foundation (NHF) created an initiative to help promote migraine and headache awareness: Wear Purple to Work (at Home). On June 1, wear purple and share a photo on social media to show solidarity for the 40+ million people in America living with headache disorders. 

When you share on social media, please use the hashtags: #MHAM #MHAM2020.

Headache at Work

Work often includes facing a slew of headache and migraine triggers that can stack and result in increased attacks: bright lights, computer screens, strong odors / scents, loud noises, stress, rigid schedules and deadlines, the list goes on. 

Many people are working from home during the pandemic. For some, work being moved to a virtual / from home format is proving to allow the flexibility needed to be a more productive worker and have improved quality of life.

It’s unclear what the work landscape will look like, as more workplaces decide how to move forward. It remains important to recognize the need for employer accommodations for those living with headache disorders. Hopefully these months of virtual workplaces will provide the evidence needed for companies to consider offering employees more options moving forward. 

Once workplaces bring people back to the office, the Migraine at Work campaign provides tools and resources for employers and employees to utilize. 

"I don't have a dis-ability, I have a different-ability." - Robert M. Hensel