World Scleroderma Day 2017: Let’s Raise Awareness

by Nicola Whitehill | June 28, 2017

World Scleroderma Day, June 29, 2017

Wehoo, Thursday, June 29, is World Scleroderma Day.

This is our opportunity to showcase the rare disease scleroderma to the world to raise awareness — whether it be for fundraising purposes, for investment in research for that oh-so-desired cause and cure, or awareness for educational purposes.

This is our day to put the spotlight on the rare disease that we live with 365 days of the year with no holiday break, with hope and pain as our constant companions.

Why June 29?

June 29 commemorates the date when the gifted Swiss-German artist Paul Klee (1879–1940) died. Ten years after his death, Klee is believed to have been diagnosed with diffuse systemic sclerosis. I discussed this in more detail in a previous article.

Scleroderma Awareness Month 2017 Patient Profiles, Research Campaign

This year, my June Scleroderma Awareness Month campaign has been focused on Patient Profiles from all over the world, highlighting best practice and management of the scleroderma patient, along with current unmet clinical needs.

I have combined these requirements with the focus on current medical research and will be providing an overall outcome in due course.

However, the main golden hallmarks for best practice, regardless of the location, are:

Early diagnosis
Expert specialist centers
Access to innovative medicines

These golden hallmarks run parallel to medical research being at the nucleus for optimum management and prevention.

The importance of medical research

By understanding the biological processes as to why the immune response is triggered in the first instance, for the body to then manifest such symptoms, will most certainly reduce the lifetime burden of this disease.

Financial investment in medical research, along with global collaboration of progress in understanding, is paramount.

The launch of the Journal of Scleroderma and Related Disorders (JSRD) at the 4th Systemic Sclerosis Congress last year is a welcome advancement in the sharing of scientific research data and understanding. The contents of the journal, as shown by the current five issues, indicate the current clinical research focus areas for the entire holistic scleroderma experience.

The 5th Systemic Sclerosis World Congress takes place Feb. 15-17, 2018, in Bordeaux, France, where the latest research data will be presented.

World Scleroderma Day 2017

Like last year, there are many events being held worldwide, varying from “‘out and about” walk in the park activities to virtual walk social media participation.

Our friends in Canada continue to set the bar high for the rest of the world with their scleroderma awareness-raising. They are lighting up Niagara Falls again this year in blue and the Peace Bridge in teal. If you cannot experience this in person, you can watch it live via the Scleroderma Canada Facebook Page.

Although I admit it’s not nearly as thrilling as seeing Niagara Falls, I will be presenting it live here on the Scleroderma News Facebook Page. Please comment below if there are any topics in particular that you would like me to discuss.

Scleroderma Unit, The Royal Free Hospital, London

Long-term diffuse systemic sclerosis patient Lynn Steblecki is holding her debut book launch at the Royal Free Hospital for medical research. I am very excited for Lynn and wish her every success.

Social media/Internet materials to share

Huge thanks go to U.S. patient Sharon Esposito for sharing her wonderful creativity in making her scleroderma awareness images available for all of us to share.

World Scleroderma Day 2016

World Scleroderma Day 2016 — just a year ago — was a very busy day with activities and events taking place all over the world, as well as a very busy June Scleroderma Awareness Month 2016.

World Scleroderma Day 2015

I had the pleasure of being a presenter and part of the European cohort who gave a presentation at the European Parliament in Brussels in honor of World Scleroderma Day 2015. I am immensely grateful to James Carver, MEP, for organizing this event in memory of his late wife, Carmen, who sadly passed away from scleroderma.

To view the presentation, click here.

Columnist Nicola Whitehill speaking at the European Parliament on World Scleroderma Day 2015.

I had not been abroad for over a decade prior to this trip, and my seven-week bed rest following the trip was a harsh reminder as to why I had not been away for so long! However, the experience remains one of my few patient highlights of the last 20 years.

Wishing you a very happy and most blessed June 29 World Scleroderma Day. #SclerodermaFreeWorld

Please DONATE to help fund medical research at The Scleroderma Unit, where 100 percent of all of your money will be used for medical research purposes only. Thank you.

Living the dream, hoping for a cure

#SclerodermaFreeWorld #RaynaudsFreeWorld

#RareDisease #Hope #Belief

Follow Raynauds Scleroderma Awareness Global Patients Facebook Page for latest updates.

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Note: Scleroderma News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Scleroderma News or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to scleroderma.

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About the Author

Nicola Whitehill Having graduated with BSc Hons in Applied and Human Biology in 1995, I was working as a medical rep for Bristol Myers Squibb, when in 1997, aged 24, I was diagnosed with diffuse systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) and rayanuds and given a prognosis of 15 months, soon to be wheel chair bound. I was advised by my medical professional, at that time, to give up on my dream of being a barrister, and accept the diagnosis...... I did none of this! I changed my medical professional to international experts of the diagnosis (Dame Prof Black, and Prof Denton) and kept my dreams alive, qualifying as a practising barrister in March 2004. This prompted the medical decision to stop the 2g daily immunosuppressant routine of the previous 5 years, and unfortunately, within 8 weeks, I was forced to cease my 60hour working week and accept that the physical requirements of the role were too much for my body. I relocated to my family home town of Southport, UK. My full time job now, is to manage my symptoms to a controllable level. In 2013 I came out of the scleroderma closet to the world by way of the Daily Mail publishing my story with the headline 'The Real Life Tin Man' and since then I have devoted all of my spare energy to highlighting the plight of the scleroderma patient. In 2013 I became a patient advocate on the NHS England Clinical Reference Group for Specialised Rheumatology. I am honoured to have been a member of the clinical team who compiled the NHS England treatment guidelines for digital ulcers. In 2013, I also became a patient expert with the European Medicines Agency as well as Eurordis. In 2015 I was delighted to be a UK patient advocate for the FESCA World Scleroderma Day event held at the European Parliament: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQimB_F2l_4 . I am wholly committed to improving the patient landscape which this diagnosis brings, and I feel very blessed that my symptoms are mild compared to other Ssc patients, whose voices, I hope to include also. Other than being a Ssc parrot, I enjoy relaxing with my dogs and anything which makes me feel good, as one day I want to be able to say I am scleroderma and raynauds free.