MAY ACTIVISM: National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day - May 12, 2009National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day - May 12, 2009

National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day - May 12, 2009
http://www.baxterbulletin.com/article/20090502/NEIGHBORHOODS01/905020343

CITY, STATE- On May 12, 2009, residents of Mountain Home will join millions
of people worldwide to observe Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. Led by the
National Fibromyalgia Association, the theme for this year's campaign is
"Fibromyalgia Affects Everyone" and focuses on the far-reaching effects of
this common, chronic pain disorder-from broken lives to the economic costs
for patients and society.

An estimated 10 million men, women and children in the United States suffer
from fibromyalgia, which is characterized by chronic widespread pain,
multiple tender points, abnormal pain processing, sleep disturbances, and
fatigue.

For those with severe symptoms, fibromyalgia can be extremely debilitating
and interfere with basic daily activities.

Total healthcare costs over 12 months are about three times higher among
fibromyalgia patients compared to patients without the disorder

Fibromyalgia costs the U.S. between $12-$14 billion each year

"Fibromyalgia Awareness Day provides an opportunity to educate others in our
local community about this life-altering disorder-and to bring hope to the
millions of people who suffer from it," says (Lakeview resident Linda
Brisbois).

ABOUT AWARENESS DAY

In 1993, Tom Hennessy, the founder of RESCIND, INC. (Repeal Existing
Stereotypes about Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases),
designated May 12 as International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological
and Neurological Diseases (CIND). The date was chosen 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-30s and spent the last 50 years of
her life virtually bedridden. Despite her illness, she managed to found the
first-ever School of Nursing. Awareness Day activities take place worldwide
in an effort to increase awareness of chronic pain illnesses including
fibromyalgia.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL FIBROMYALGIA ASSOCIATION:

The National Fibromyalgia Association is a nonprofit organization whose
mission is to develop and execute programs dedicated to improving the
quality of life for people with fibromyalgia. The NFA publishes a quarterly
magazine, Fibromyalgia AWARE, and hosts an award-winning website at
www.fmaware.org.