I'm Blogging For Invisible Illness Awareness Week 2010!

by Chronically Creative - Friday, September 10, 2010

National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week- September 13-19

National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is next week! I've just signed up at bloggers unite to blog for the cause for the very first time! I am really looking forward to next week and I've been hard at work on some great posts. I can't wait to share them with you next week!

What is invisible illness awareness week all about?

National Invisible Chronic Illness awareness week is sponsored by Rest Ministries which is the largest Christian organisation that specifically serves those with chronic pain. Rest Ministries was established in 1997 and is founded by Lisa Copen, author of nine books including Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways To Encourage A Chronically Ill Friend and Why Can't I Make People Understand? Lisa lives with both rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, and is personally a woman who I greatly admire. Her books and articles featured on invisibleillness.com have been a great comfort and a source of hope, encouragement and inspiration to me over the past four years.

The week was founded in 2002 and is aimed at reminding people that they are not alone in their pain and is about raising awareness of the staggering statistic that 96% of illnesses are invisible. It is a time to increase awareness that about 1 in 2 people have a chronic illness, most of which are invisible. The week is held annually in September. The highlight of the week is the free 5 day virtual conference which features four speakers a day talking on a range of topics in relation to dealing, coping, and managing chronic illness so that you can be encouraged that chronic pain doesn't have to define who you are.

The 2010 campaign

This years theme is 'everyone can reach one' which involves leaving encouraging anonymous notes in public places or somewhere where it can be found and read by another inviting them to check out-

invisibleillness.com. Thousands of people around the world are getting involved in this important week by leaving encouraging sticky notes in hope of reminding people that they are not alone in their pain, that there are people who care and more importantly that there is VISIBLE hope.

I will post more details on how YOU can get involved in the 'everyone can reach one' campaign in a separate upcoming post so be sure to watch out for it.

5 ways how YOU can get involved in invisible illness awareness week

Donate- this will help Rest Ministries to cover expenses of resources and enable them to encourage more people. You can donate online at invisibleillness.com

Read- check out some of the bloggers blogging about the week at bloggers unite

Participate in the campaign- spread the sticky note love by reaching out to someone living with invisible chronic pain. Change one life with just a note! You don't have to have a chronic illness to get involved.

Got facebook or twitter?

Tweet or post a status during invisible illness awareness week stating about the week and posting a link to the website to raise awareness. For example you could post " I support invisible illness awareness week 2010, sept 13-19. If you are in pain you are not alone. Find visible hope. Check out www.invisibleillness.com ."