In 1993, May 12 was designated as the International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND) by Tom Hennessy, the founder of RESCIND, Inc. (Repeal Existing Stereotypes about Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases), to memorialize the birth date of Florence Nightingale, the English army nurse who inspired the founding of the International Red Cross. Nightingale contracted a paralyzing, CIND-like illness in her mid-thirties and spent the last 50 years of her life virtually bedridden. Despite her illness, she managed to found the world’s first School of Nursing.

The National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA) joined the Awareness Day effort in 1997 and has led the call for increased recognition of fibromyalgia each May 12. The NFA collaborates with fibromyalgia support groups and patient advocates around the world to coordinate innovative national and international events in honor of Awareness Day. Awareness Day activities are designed to increase awareness of chronic pain illnesses including fibromyalgia, as well as to assist patients and organizations in educating the general public, healthcare professionals, government officials, and legislative bodies.

Each May 12 the NFA encourages the FM community to approach their local and state government officials to request a proclamation declaring May 12 International Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. To simplify the process, the NFA provides a proclamation template that is easy to customize.

Additionally, the NFA creates an annual campaign and provides materials to assist support group leaders and advocates in coordinating their own local events. Over the years, participation in Awareness Day events has increased and gained momentum through grassroots efforts of support group and patient advocates around the world. Here’s a look back at our most recent campaigns:

2008 National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
The NFA’s National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day campaign theme for 2008 was Caring by Sharing. The nationwide, multifaceted campaign offered three opportunities for support group leaders, advocates, patients, caregivers, healthcare providers and others to support the cause. Caring by Sharing the PATH: The fibromyalgia community was invited to support the NFA’s Walk of FAME by registering to participate or by coordinating a Walk of FAME in their community. The National Fibromyalgia Association held its inaugural Walk of FAME (Fibromyalgia Awareness Means Everything) and Health Expo on May 10, 2008 at The Block at Orange in California. Caring by Sharing the FACTS: Many groups and individuals hosted alternative events in their community on or around May 12, 2008. Those events included: health fairs, the Fibromyalgia Pledge to Care program and presentations by fibromyalgia healthcare professionals. Caring by Sharing FM AWARENESS: Other individuals spread awareness by sharing their personal story with local media outlets, by participating in the NFA’s annual proclamation program and by handing out FM materials in their community.

2007 National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day Campaign: Fibromyalgia in Focus

The NFA and Trillusion Media, makers of the groundbreaking documentary film “Living with Fibromyalgia,” partnered to coordinate screenings of the film across the country. The NFA created Awareness Day packets for support group leaders and advocates, including a DVD of the film, movie flyers, postcard invitations, press release templates, and a guide to coordinating their own Focus on Fibromyalgia event. The campaign was extremely successful, with 135 packets purchased from groups in 40 states as well as in Canada, England, and India. As a result, the film was shown in big-screen theaters, homes, community centers, hospitals, and university facilities, taking FM awareness to a whole new level.

2006 National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day Campaign: “But You Don’t Look Sick!” The Invisible Pain of Fibromyalgia

To highlight one of the main challenges faced by people with fibromyalgia—the difficulty in convincing family, friends, employers, and even physicians that they are indeed sick—the NFA designed a poster of actual FM patients that illustrates how healthy sick people can appear to be. We also asked advocates around the world to share their stories with local media. This resulted in numerous newspaper articles and radio interviews spotlighting the actual experiences of FM patients.

2005 National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day Campaign: Be Aware! Be Active!

The “Be Aware! Be Active!” campaign sought to raise awareness of the physically debilitating effects of fibromyalgia while promoting the benefits of moderate, gradual physical activity for people with FM and other chronic pain conditions. The NFA partnered with YMCAs and Curves sites across the country to hold special events to educate FM patients and the community on the benefits of exercise. The campaign also supported and highlighted the advocacy efforts of fibromyalgia and other chronic pain illness support groups nationwide. The NFA commissioned the design of a special cranberry-colored wristband to commemorate the campaign; everyone purchasing a wristband was asked to pledge to be aware and be active.

2004 National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day Campaign: Appetite for Awareness

As part of the “Appetite for Awareness” program, local fibromyalgia groups hosted awareness events at restaurants in their community. The restaurants provided space for the groups to set up information tables, and also donated a percentage of the day's proceeds to the local group and the NFA. Families and friends dined together and shared information and support for people with fibromyalgia.