Connect, learn, thrive this Sjögren’s Awareness Month, advocates say
Sjögren’s Foundation inviting supporters to get involved this April
April is Sjögren’s Awareness Month, and a U.S.-based nonprofit is gearing up to help the community spread the word about Sjögren’s disease — and the many ways people impacted by this autoimmune condition can get involved.
For this year’s awareness month, the Sjögren’s Foundation is inviting supporters to “Connect, Learn, and Thrive” to mark the annual event.
Sjögren’s Awareness Month has been held each spring in the U.S. since 1998. Its goal is to spread awareness about Sjögren’s, which is one of the most common autoimmune diseases in the country, with estimates indicating the condition affects some 4 million Americans. The disease is more likely to affect women, and is most commonly seen in people older than 40. It can, however, manifest in people of all genders, ages, and ethnicities.
“Connect with the Sjögren’s community, Learn more about the disease and ways to bring awareness to its impact, and Thrive by accessing resources and support that empower you to live your best life with Sjögren’s,” the foundation stated in a webpage dedicated to the awareness month.
National Patient Conference will mark Sjögren’s Awareness Month
Despite being relatively common, Sjögren’s is not very well known. One of the most challenging aspects about this condition, according to supporters, is that it can manifest markedly differently from person to person, with symptoms mimicking those of other conditions and often not being obvious from the outside. Such factors can lead to delays in diagnosis and a lack of appropriate treatment, according to the nonprofit.
As part of this year’s “Connect, Learn, and Thrive” theme, the foundation is encouraging people living with the disease to tell their stories and share their experiences through an online portal. Throughout the month, the foundation will be sharing these stories to help raise awareness.
“This year, we’re celebrating the month with a special focus on the theme ‘Connect, Learn, & Thrive,’ highlighting the ways our community grows stronger through shared experiences and support. We want to feature stories from patients and those affected by Sjögren’s — stories that capture the challenges, triumphs, and moments that define life with Sjögren’s. Each day in April, we’ll showcase a new story on our website and social media,” the organization stated on its website.
Members of the Sjögren’s community can also spread the word on social media using the hashtag #ThisIsSjögrens. The foundation has prepared sample posts and graphics to make spreading the word as easy as possible.
This year, we’re celebrating the month with a special focus on the theme ‘Connect, Learn, & Thrive,’ highlighting the ways our community grows stronger through shared experiences and support.
Supporters may also participate in Walk for Sjögren’s, a series of awareness and fundraising events. Some walks are held in person, while others are taking place virtually. Some will be held in April, with others scheduled in May and June. Community members are encouraged to explore and register for the events in which they’d like to participate.
From April 11-12, the foundation will host its National Patient Conference, a virtual event that aims to provide education and connection for those in the Sjögren’s community. The cost of attendance starts at $80 for members of the foundation and $100 for nonmembers. Individuals who aren’t able to tune in for the live conference will still have access to recordings for six months afterward.
Another way in which supporters can take part in this year’s awareness month is by testing their knowledge on Sjögren’s by completing an interactive quiz the foundation has made available on its website.
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