Arthritis Misunderstanding Leads to Global Rally for Education
ST. LOUIS, May 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Between May 19th and June 7th, 2016, the International Foundation for Autoimmune Arthritis (IFAA) will attempt a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® achievement for "Most pledges received for a health campaign." This online, patient-led effort will launch a global discussion about arthritis that aims to jumpstart a major educational campaign. While IFAA will focus on the autoimmune/auto-immunity diseases and associated types of arthritis, they are encouraging all nonprofits and groups who represent any type of arthritis to join the pledge. Failure to differentiate arthritis, including individual cause and potential range of severity, has resulted in a world where 'arthritis' is typically thought to mean a minor joint condition. For the millions of patients where the arthritis is more serious, or in cases where it is a component of a more complex condition, misunderstandings can lead to unnecessary frustration, relationship conflicts, professional challenges and delays in detection and diagnosis. Global awareness and education can create a new reality for patients.
Patients living with chronic illness are often misunderstood, especially if the disease is invisible. This is the case in patients with autoimmune or auto-inflammatory diseases where onset is triggered by an immune system response and the arthritis is one part of a more complex condition. This can be particularly frustrating for those patients living with autoimmune or auto-inflammatory diseases where the word arthritis is right in the name (such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis or Juvenile Arthritis). "The lack of education surrounding the differences in arthritis has been going on for decades," explains IFAA CEO, Tiffany Westrich-Robertson. "It's not only in regards to the type of arthritis, but also how the conditions range in severity per person. In order to shift awareness and understanding, we have to unite with other influencers who understand the need for change and, together, start the global campaign for change. Simply put, we're not going to take it anymore."
The GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® attempt will launch in conjunction with World Autoimmune Arthritis Day's 2016 online event (May 19th-22nd) and end on June 7th, 2016, which marks the 7-year anniversary of the original awareness movement that evolved into IFAA today. The link to pledge will be made available on the IFAA website starting at 12:00am EST/USA on May 19th.
The attempt must surpass the current record of 27,457 pledges held by Hutchison Whampoa Guangzhou Baiyunshan Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd., set September 19th, 2015 in China. Westrich-Robertson adds, "Pledging will be online and will take only minutes to complete, but the impact that can generate from this campaign can lead to major education and awareness, which will give patients the tools they need to create a new reality - one where the world understands arthritis."
Those who want to get involved with the pledge can visit http://www.ifautoimmunearthritis.org/guinness-world-record-attempt.html. For more information please contact Tiffany Westrich-Robertson, 310-295-7369, Email
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SOURCE International Foundation for Autoimmune Arthritis (IFAA)
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