So many workouts, so many excuses.
Running? Cramps in your side.
Swimming? Hate getting wet.
Pilates? Expensive.
Spin class? A headache.
Walking? Um… Finally, an exercise truly devoid of downsides.
Many awareness groups invite people to attend a walking event where they can learn something really useful for their own lives, while also learning about a disease and the individuals who live with it.
Raising awareness of a disease can be a fun and social get together.
Doing things for others—whether small, unplanned acts or organizing events—is a powerful way to boost our own happiness as well as those around us.
Learn and Be Inspired
Giving to others can be as simple as a single kind word, smile, or a thoughtful gesture.
From individual efforts to foundation events, kindness towards others is the glue which connects individual happiness with the wider rare disease community.
Consider these walkers who are boosting awareness with their support:
- Gabe Lygo, a 10-year-old boy, walked 87 miles to support his eight-year-old friend Tom, who suffers from the rare duchenne muscular dystrophy. Read more.
- Caroline Friedman, a seventh grader, joined family and friends to form team Cruisin’ for Caroline to walk for primary pulmonary hypertension. Read more.
- Team Torus Ankylosaurus celebrated crossing the finish line on May 31st, 2016! Their second annual Walk Your AS Off celebration to raise awareness for ankylosing spondylitis. Read more.
- The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) hosts walks around the country to help raise awareness and money for these diseases. This year marked the first time they made their way to Auburn. Read more.
- The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation (MGF) of Michigan hosted a timed 5K run with medals by age category and a 1-mile fun walk to benefit myasthenia gravis. Read more.
- The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) kicked off their 2016 Annual National Conference with the North Carolina MG Walk. Read more.
- Want to run on behalf of a loved one with Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) or to increase HAE awareness on behalf of yourself and your family? Read more.
- This event raised funds for Dysautonomia International to support ongoing Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS, research. Read more.
- Want to walk on behalf of primary immunodeficiency (PI)? Read more.
- The Team Hope Walk program is Huntington’s Disease Society of America largest grassroots event to support HD. Read more.
Helping others is not only a good thing to do, but also makes us happier and healthier too.
Giving also connects us to others, creating stronger rare disease communities and helping to build a happier society for everyone.
And it’s not all about money – we can also give our time, ideas and energy. Any way you can raise awareness and support a cause will help increase public understanding about a disease.
So if you want to feel good, do good!
