2008 Press Releases
Grab a press release to send out to friends, family, share on your own blog, or post to other freebie press releaase services. Any help you can offer in spreading the word is needed and appreciated!
For individual posts/links click on them below:
- Chronically Ill Will Find Encouragement During Invisible Illness Week’s Workshops
- Invisible Illness Week Seminars Reach Out to People in Twenties and Thirties
- Chronically Ill Find Effect Coping Tools During Invisible Illness Week Workshops
- Care-giving, Faith and Support Groups Seminars Offered During Invisible Illness Week
- Join Hundreds of Others in Blogging About Invisible Illness Sept 8-12
- Chronically Ill Enthusiastically Anticipate Virtual Internet Conference Sept 8-12
- Christian Organization Unites the Millions Who Live with Invisible Illness
- Invisible Illness Week Offers Free Online Seminars Regarding College and Career
- Invisible Illness Awareness Week Brings Together Thousands Who “Get it”
- Blogging for Awareness of Invisible Illness Week Unites Thousands
- Invisible Illness Week Theme Offers Hope Despite Pain
Thank you!
____________________________________________
Invisible Illness Awareness Week Brings Together Thousands Who “Get it”
Living with an invisible illness can cause heartache and bitterness when one feels no one understands the significance of the illness. Invisible Illness Week provides that validation that people with invisible diseases often seek.
San Diego, CA — (SBWIRE) — 08/27/2008 — While we assume that most people are generally healthy, you may be surprised to find out that an alarming nearly 1 in 2 people in the United States live with a chronic illness. So why is it that most of us don’t even know when a friend or co-worker is dealing with diabetes, heart disease, lupus, or chronic fatigue syndrome? Because, according to the U.S. Census, about 96% of people have invisible illnesses.National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is being held this year,
, the largest Christian organization that serves the chronically ill. Visit the invisible illness awareness campaign’s web site at www.invisibleillnessblog.org . You can be encouraged through dozens of articles, including daily guest bloggers, find ideas to get involved in the outreach, and goodies to help promote awareness, from silicone bracelets to brochures. Tired of those looks when you park in a handicapped spot? Be sure to pick up a license plate or bumper sticker.The focal point of the awareness campaign is September 8-12 (M-F) during which 20 telephone seminars will be held on a variety of topics and are open to anyone. Topics may also be of interest to those with loved-ones who have an illness. Some seminars include:
-How to Get Paid to Blog
- After the Diagnosis: The Journey Beyond
The theme this year is “Hope Can Grow From The Soil of Illness.”
Lisa Copen, 39, began National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week in 2002 as she continuously witnessed hundreds of people emotionally hurting just because they felt as though no one “got it.” Lisa has lived with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia for fifteen years and understands how validating it can be to just have one friend who you don’t have to explain everything to.
“Though there are hundreds of illnesses represented, and large differences in symptoms and pain levels, none of that matters more than feeling like someone understands you. When our best friends and family members are skeptical about our disease, it can be that last straw that sets us off into a spiraling depression.”
She says, “We plan to unite the millions of people who live with chronic pain and illness by offering an oasis of hope and understanding, as well as helpful information and practical tools to live the best life possible.”
Through the guest bloggers of Invisible Illness Week, to 20 seminars that supply tools to ensure that one is cared for–both body and soul–National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is succeeding in meeting that goal.
Lisa Copen
Director
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week
888-751-7378
http://www.invisibleillness.com
____________________________________________
Blogging for Awareness of Invisible Illness Week Unites Thousands
AUG 2008
Chronic illness statistics are staggering, with nearly 1 in 2 people in the USA living with a chronic condition and, according to U.S. Census Bureau, about 96% of illnesses are invisible. With hundreds of thousands of people on the Internet searching for health information and support, thousands of bloggers now post daily journals about the emotional challenges they live with while facing a daily chronic illness filled with pain.
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, September 8-14, 2008, is inviting these blogs to have a substantial role in their awareness campaign. For example, part of their outreach includes over thirty days of guest bloggers as well as bloggers across the internet posting about invisible illness matters. For example, if you have an invisible illness-and a legal handicapped parking placard-you’ve likely faced a few stares and questions if you park in the blue spot since your invisible illness does not require the use of a wheelchair.
All over the internet, bloggers are putting their illness awareness efforts together to join in helping more people become aware of invisible illnesses. They show their support by posting about invisible illness issues, on their own blog. A downloadable badge that says, “I’m blogging for Invisible Illness Awareness Week” can spread the word about their commitment to the cause. Plus, bloggers are also thanked publicly each Friday on the Invisible Illness Week blog, which can give them lots of extra exposure for their own web site. Bloggers can post anytime, but they are also encouraged to specifically post on September 8th to kick off the week.
Lisa Copen, who founded National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week in 2002 says, “Though we live with thousands of different illnesses, we have more in common than not. For example, illness impacts our families, careers, finances and daily living, to name a few. We can all learn from one another and share during this journey.” She adds, “And frankly, people are tired of hearing, ‘But you look so good!’ and they want others to know that their illness is legitimate despite how well they seem to be holding it all together.”
Laurie Edwards is the author of a recently published book called, “Life Disrupted: Getting Real About Chronic Illness in Your Twenties and Thirties.” She has blogged about her illness since 2006 and says, “When you are a young adult people expect you to put in long hours to establish a career, to jump into the dating world, and to build a life for yourself. But they certainly don’t expect you to be sick. There’s no such thing as ‘too young’ to be sick! That is just one of the many reasons why Invisible Illness Week is so important!”
If you would like to join this unique opportunity to blog for awareness about invisible illnesses, see www.invisibleillness.wordpress.com . You can also receive updates, participate in surveys, win prizes, and find out more about the telephone workshops at the Invisible Illness Week web site: www.invisibleillness.com .
CONTACT:
LISA COPEN
858.486.4865
___________________________________________
Invisible Illness Week Theme Offers Hope Despite Pain
AUG 2008
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, September 8-14, has announced the 2008 theme: “Hope Can Grow From the Soil of Illness.”
Lisa Copen, Founder of Rest Ministries, the sponsor of this annual event says, “Illness can signify the loss of one’s plans and even dreams, but most often people who live with invisible illness find a new purpose they would not have imagined under any other set of circumstances.”
The next month will feature bloggers on the topic of illness, all of who have found a renewed sense of direction, despite the life-altering changes illness has brought into their lives.
Copen, 39, who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia at the age of 24, remembers searching for what her purpose would be within her new limitations.
“I had always planned to work for a nonprofit doing something to help others, but I never felt I was efficient or empathetic enough because I had not walked in the shoes of those I served. Now, through my illness ministry and books on aspects of coping with illness, I have the chance to use what I experience each day to reach out to others. It’s my hope that they will also find hope despite their illness, as they discover that new sense of purpose in the pain.”
To find out more about the telephone seminars that will be held September 8-12, as well as the invisible illness week awareness outreach products, visit www.invisibleillness.com .
CONTACT:
LISA COPEN
858.486.4865
Lisa,
my 12 year old had to call 911 this past friday for me and I was dropped at a hospital that put me in a chair and left me facing the wall, it had no wheels and my cane was not sent with me since it was an emergency and my 12 year old was to upset to remember, my iv feel and my oxygen tank came off I was seconds away from wetting myself it was the most humilating thing out of me that has impacted my life, I am unable to sit for more than 10 minutes due to two spine surgeries, cervical surgery and brain surgery, they had my notes in their computers but Thankful a volunteer walked by saw that I was in distress and helped me to get into the bathroom and shortily there after my family arrived. I cannot tell you how humilitating it was I started to have a melt down and think it was a breakdown, with uncontrollable crying and I was brought in because of dehydration, and chest pain… I was told by the volunteer that she had told the nurses that I was in distress and they told her to mind her own business. I will find out who she was and make sure she gets thanked, but in the meantime what can I do sto stop this from happening if it should ever happen again. I am in theraphy for memory problems and accepting my disabilities but this episode set me back years, I can not even understand that people who trained to help others could treat someone like I was. I told them that if I was dropped off at a vet I would of been treated faster and with more compassion it is still causing me sleepless nights and such shame… Have you heard of this happening to others and how did they get through it.? It you can find the time to answer I would appreciate it but it helps just to write it out and let another know what I felt….God Bless you in your work and I voted for your too…:)
Sheilaschiarijourney
May 4, 2009